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jj.i. 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 

S. W. McCALLIE., State Geologist 


Bulletin No. 40 


PETROLEUM 

AND 

NATURAL GAS POSSIBILITIES 

IN 

GEORGIA 

* 

> > 

* > » 


BY 

T. M. PRLTTYMAN and H. 5. CAVE. 
Assistant State Geologists 


j 


I 923 

BYRD PRINTING COMPANY 
ATLANTA. GA. 








• « 

«* 


LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

RECEIVED 

? * t | ^ OO O 

jwL ~ iJ 


DOCUMENTS DIVISION 



THE ADVISORY BOARD 
OF THE 

Geological Survey of Georgia 

IN THE YEAR 1923 


(Ex-Officio) 

His Excellency, Thomas W. Hardwick 

Governor of Georgia 
President of the Board 

Hon. S. G. McLENDON _Secretary of State 

Hon. W. J. SPEER_State Treasurer 

Hon. W. A. WRIGHT_Comptroller-General 

Hon. GEORGE M. NAPIER_Attorney-General 

Hon. J. J. BROWN_Commissioner of Agriculture 

Hon. M. M. PARKS_Commissioner of Public Schools 


III 









LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL 


Geological Survey of Georgia, 

Atlanta, June 1, 1923. 

To His Excellency, Thos. W. Hardwick, Governor, and Presi¬ 
dent of the Advisory Board of the Geological Survey 
of Georgia. 

Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith the report 
on the Possibilities of Petroleum and Natural Gas Production 
in Georgia, to be published as Bulletin No. 40 of this survey. 

Very respectfully, 

S. W. McCallie, 
State Geologist. 


IV 



CONTENTS 


Page 

Introduction . 1-2 

General geologic principles . 2-17 

Erosion and deposition . 2-3 

Earth movements . 3-4 

Alteration of rocks . 4-5 

Classification of rocks . 5-10 

Types . 5-6 

Mineral contents . 6-8 

Texture . 8-10 

Life on the earth and the geologic time table. 10-13 

Summary of geologic history. 13-17 

General considerations relative to petroleum and natural gas. 17-33 

Definitions of terms . 17-18 

Uses of petroleum . 18 

Historical notes . 18-19 

Geologic distribution . 19-20 

Geographic distribution . 20 

Future supply . 20-21 

Physical properties . 21-24 

Chemical composition . .. 24 

Distillation fractions . 24 

Classification of oils . 24-26 

Relations between petroleum, coal, and natural gas. 26-33 

Conditions essential to the formation of petroleum in commercial 

quantities . 33-49 

Source . 33-36 

Inorganic theory . 33-34 

Organic theory . 34-36 

Conversion . 36-38 

Accumulation . 38-45 

General principles . 38 

Porosity of rocks . 38-39 

Impervious capping . 39 

Forces causing movement of oil. 39-40 

Favorable structures . 40-45 

Folded strata . 40-41 

Closed monoclinal strata . 41-43 

Lenticular porous beds . 43-44 

Other structures . 44 

Summary of structures . 45 

Retention . 45-49 

Location of oil and gas test wells. 49-53 

Non-structural factors . 49-51 

Structural indications . 51-53 

Popular fallacies relative to petroleum and natural gas. 53-56 

Divining rods, etc. 53 

General surface appearance . 53 


V 
















































CONTENTS—Continued 


Page 

Topography . 

Migration of oil. 54 

Vegetation . 54-55 

Elevations . 55 

“Gas blowouts” . 55-56 

History of oil prospecting in Georgia. 56-58 

Physiographic features of Georgia. 58 

Physiographic divisions . 58-59 

Coastal Plain . 59-65 

General features . 59-61 

Fall-line hills . 61-62 

Daugherty plain . 62 

Altamaha upland . 63-64 

Southern lime-sink region . 64 

Okefenokee plain . 65 

Satilla Coastal lowland . 66 

Piedmont Plateau . 68 

Appalachian Mountains . 69 

Appalachian Valley . 70 

Cumberland Plateau . 71 

Geology of the Coastal Plain of Georgia. 72 

Geologic formations . 72 

Cretaceous system . 73 

Lower Cretaceous (?) undifferentiated . 74 

Eutaw formation . 74 

Ripley formation . 75 

Upper createous undifftrentiated . 75 

Tertiary system 
Eocene series 

Midway formation . 76 

Wilcox formation . 77 

Claiborne group . 78 

McBean formation . 78 

Undifferentiated Claiborne deposits. 79 

Deposits of Jackson age. 79 

Ocala limestone . 79 

Barnwell formation . 80 

Oligocene series . 80 

Vicksburg group . 80 

Glendon formation . 81 

Chattahoochee formation . 81 

Miocene series . 82 

Alum Bluff formation. 83 

Marks Head marl . 84 

Duplin marl . 85 

Unclassified Miocene deposits . 86 

Pliocene(?) series . 86 

Charlton formation . 86 

Quaternary system 


VI 
















































CONTENTS—Continued 


Page 

Pleistocene series . 87 

Columbia group . 87 

Okefenokee formation . 87 

Satilla formation . 89 

Regional dip of formations . 90 

Correlation table of principal Gulf Coast formations, showing those 

that have produced oil or gas. 91-92 

Some deep wells of the Coastal Plain. 93-95 

Well logs 

Albany . 93-94 

Cherokee Hill (Savannah) . 94-97 

Scotland . 97-98 

Fredel . 98-101 

Doctortown . 101-102 

Hazelhurst . 102-105 

Summary . 

Structural conditions in the Coastal Plain of Georgia. 107-114 

Methods employed in determining structures. 107 

Structural area No. 1. 107-109 

Structural area No. 2. 109-112 

Structural area No- 3. 112-115 

Elevations . 115 

Contact outcrop elevations . 115-116 

Elevations determined from well logs. 117-120 

Logs of wells used in determining structure contour lines. 121-127 

General structural evidence . 127-129 

Oil seeps in Georgia . 129-131 

Scotland seep . 129 

Wrightsville seep. 130 

Hawkinsville seep . 130 

Interpretation . 130-131 

Generalized structure of the Coastal Plain of Georgia and adjacent 

areas . 131-132 

Conclusions on structural conditions of the Coastal Plain. 132-133 

Petroleum possibilities . 133 

Possible sources of oil in the Coastal Plain .133-137 

Petroleum possibilities north of the Fall line. 135-138 

Piedmont Plateau and Appalachian Mountains. 135 

Appalachian Valley and Cumberland Plateau. 135-137 

Summary . 137 

Oil prospect wells north of the Fall line. 138 

Morgan County well . 138 

Rome Petroleum and Iron Company’s wells. 138 

General conclusions on petroleum possibilities of Georgia. 139-140 

Appendix A: 

Some general considerations relative to the production of oil and gas 140-147 
Appendix B: 

Altitudes in the Coastal Plain of Georgia. 149-161 

River altitudes . 162-164 


VII 













































ILLUSTRATIONS 

plates . Page 

I Prospect oil well, Dixie Oil Company, near McRae, Wheeler 

County . Fron tspiece 

II A, Barnwell sandstone, Clark’s Mill, Jefferson County 7 Ms miles north¬ 
west of Louisville . 32 

B,Ocala limestone exposure on Flint River, Crisp County. 

III A, Glendon limestone on the Ocmulgee River 2 miles south of Hawkins- 

ville, Pulaski County . 50 

B, Indurated sand and clay, Alum Bluff formation, Mill Creek, Jeff 
Davis County . ; . 

IV A, Indurated sand and clay Alum Bluff formation, Mill Creek Jeff 

Davis County . 64 

B, Working face Tift hill sand pit east side of Flint River, Albany. . 

V A, Prospect oil well, Middle Georgia Oil and Gas Company, near Jeff 

Davis-Coffee County line 15 miles west of Hazlehurst. 80 

B, Indurated Alum Bluff formation at Water falls, on Mill Creek 

Jeff Davis County . 

VI A, Eocene basal conglomerate over bauxite, east face of Carswell near 

McIntyre, Wilkinson County . 92 

B, Prospect oil well, Savannah Oil and Gas Corporation, 7 miles west 
of Savannah . 

VII A, Ocala limsestone, bluff on the Kitchafoonee Creek, 7 miles above 

Albany . 128 

B, Ocala limestone in a cut on the G. S. & F. R. R., 4 miles north of 
Grovania, Houston County . 

VIII A, H. G. Samples oil seep No. 1, Scotland, Telfair County. 148 

B, H. G. Samples oil seep No. 2, Scotland, Telfair County. 

FIGURES 

Page 

1 . Simple auticline showing oil and gas collected in porous bed at crest 

of fold . 40 

2. Faulted monocline, showing oil and gas collected on downthrown side 

of fault. 41 

3. Porous lens on monocline, oil and gas in solid black. 42 

4. Terrace on monocline, showing oil and gas collected in porous bed on 

the terrace . 43 

5. Lens-shaped porous bed in less porous strata. 44 

6 . Oil and gas reservoir formed by an unconformity. 45 

7- Simple auticline formed by doming effect of salt plug. 46 

8 . Simple syncline showing oil and gas collected in porous bed in bottom 

of fold . 47 

9. Folded beds beneath an unconformity . 48 

10. Exposure and removal of former reservoir rocks by erosion. 49 

11. Generalized structure of the Coastal Plain of Georgia and adjacent 

areas . 131 

MAPS 

Page 

I Showing physiographic divisions of Georgia. 60 

II Structural areas of the Coastal Plain of Georgia.. ’ .108 

III Geological map of the Coastal Plain of Georgia showing structural lines 135 

VIII 
































POSSIBILITIES OF PETROLEUM AND 
NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION 
IN GEORGIA 


INTRODUCTION 

This report is devoted to a presentation of the data relative to 
the possibilities of petroleum and natural gas production in Georgia. 
In order that the subject may be more readily understood by the 
layman the writers have attempted to outline a few major principles 
of general geology, and have added brief statements regarding the 
nature of petroleum and natural gas, their origin, and mode of 
accumulation. 

The data embraced within this report have been gathered from 
many sources. The account of the physiography, with only slight 
modifications, has been taken from the United States Geological 
Survey Water-Supply Paper 341 and from bulletin 15 of the 
State Survey. To these data has been added material collected in 
the field. The account of the geology has been in considerable 
part taken from the publications of L. W. Stephenson, C. W. 
Cooke, T. W. Vaughan, E. W. Berry, Otto Veatch, and H. K. 
Shearer, and in part based on field work of the writers. The sec¬ 
tion on “general geologic principles” and the section on “general 
considerations relative to petroleum and natural gas” have been 
compiled from the works of Pirsson and Shuchert, Chamberlin 
and Salisbury, Johnson and Huntley, W. H. Emmons, Dorsey 
Hager, David T. Day, and others. 

The field work upon which this report is based was done during 
the seasons of 1921 and 1922. Practically the whole of the time 
spent in the field was in the Coastal Plain area, with only a very 
small part spent in that portion of the State north of the Fall line. 



2 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


The authors express their thanks to C. W. Cooke and L. W. 
Stephenson, both of the United States Geological Survey, for the 
valuable aid and advice given by them. Thanks are likewise 
due to J. F. Wooten of Eastman, Ga., and to Robert Murray of Lum¬ 
ber City, Ga., for valuable well logs. Thanks are also given to 
W. T. Thom, Jr., of the United States Geological Survey, for his 
criticism of the manuscript and for valuable suggestions offered 
by him. It is impossible to state here the names of the numerous 
other persons who have contributed material used in this bulletin. 
In every case the writers have attempted to indicate the source of 
all such data. For these data they are grateful, and they also wish 
to express their appreciation of the interest and ready response 
shown by many citizens of the State. 

GENERAL GEOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES 
A study of the petroleum and oil possibilities of any area is 
essentially a problem of geology, and must be based upon certain 
fundamental geologic principles. These principles are mainly in the 
nature of earth processes, which have been going on since the earlier 
periods of geologic history and will continue indefinitely. They con¬ 
stitute the fulfillment of natural laws, which are only partly under¬ 
stood. Of these grand processes of nature, four are of especial 
interest: (1) Erosion and deposition; (2) earth movements; (3) the 
alteration of rocks j (4) animal and vegetable life. 

EROSION AND DEPOSITION 

Nearly all land masses are gradually being eroded or worn away. 
Mainly through the agency of rain and wind surface material is 
carried to the streams, which in turn transport their burden to the 
oceans, where it is deposited on the sea bottom. Thus erosion and 
deposition are complementary processes. Much of the transported 
material is carried as mechanically suspended solid matter, but the 
amount of dissolved matter carried in solution is also great. 


GENERAL GEOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES 


3 


The rate at which land surfaces are lowered by erosion is largely 
dependent upon the steepness of surface slope, the amount of rain and 
wind, and the tendency of the surface material to disintegrate and 
decompose into fine particles that may be easily moved. The sum 
of these factors generally determines the rate of erosion. 1 

Deposition of suspended matter is largely governed by current 
velocities. The swifter the current the larger the size of particles that 
can be carried. As currents decrease in velocity the coarser particles 
are dropped first and the deposits are graded according to size. As 
marine currents are usually swifter near ocean shores, sand and other 
coarse material is usually deposited near the shore line, and the finer 
material is carried farther out to sea. Very fine particles, which would 
normally remain in suspension for a long time, tend to coagulate 
through the agency of the salinity of sea water and sink to the bot¬ 
tom. 

Dissolved matter, such as lime, is precipitated from solution un¬ 
der various favorable physical and chemical conditions. Bacteria 
are known to play an important part here. More highly soluble 
constituents, such as ordinary salt, remain in solution and cause the 
salinity of ocean water. 

The transporting power of wind is an important factor in erosion 
and deposition. Fine particles of solid matter are carried great dis¬ 
tances in the air. 

The final result of erosion and deposition would be the level¬ 
ing of all land masses approximately down to sea level, with the 
corresponding transfer of material to the oceans. The system would 
then -probably approach a state of equilibrium were it not for the 
fact that movements of the earth’s surface disturb the nicely ad¬ 
justed balance. 

EARTH MOVEMENTS 

The surface of the earth is probably never entirely stationary. 
Practically every region that has been studied shows evidence of 

1 The rate of erosion of the Coastal Plain of Georg-ia, as estimated by Dole 
and Stabler, is approximately one foot in 8760 years. See Volume II, Report of 
National Conservation Commission, Senate Document No. 676, 1919. 



4 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


repeated upward and downward movements, relative to other areas. 
Usually the rate of motion is very slow, extending over vast periods 
of time, but it is sometimes very rapid. Movements may be of 
regional extent, affecting many hundred thousand square miles of 
territory, or they may be localized within a very small area, of per¬ 
haps a fraction of one square mile. There is also great variation in 
the magnitude of vertical displacement, ranging probably from a 
few inches up to several miles. 

Of the theories which have been advanced regarding the cause 
of earth movements, contraction due mainly to cooling is regarded 
as the most important. Internal heat effects and overloading of 
areas due to deposition are also considered important. 

Earthquakes and volcanic activity sometimes accompany move¬ 
ments. The former are generally considered to be caused by 
readjustment along lines of weakness, and the latter to be caused 
by heat effects. 

We have strong evidence that the interior of the earth is very 
hot, the temperature increasing with depth, but no one knows just 
how hot it is at extreme depth, neither is it known whether or not 
the material there is molten. There is however, evidence indi¬ 
cating that the whole earth was once molten. This could very 
well explain the high temperatures known to exist within the earth 
today. 

All earth movements, whatever their cause may be, tend to 
buckle the horizontal beds into folds, which are sometimes very 
gentle, with only slight deviation from the horizontal, but at times 
the folding becomes so intense as to tilt the beds to a vertical posi¬ 
tion or even to overturn them. Beds which are brittle, and con¬ 
sequently easily broken, are often fractured by only gentle folding, 
while tougher material may be intensely deformed without break¬ 
ing. 

ALTERATION OF ROCKS 

The material of which the earth is composed is ever-changing. 


GENERAL GEOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES 


5 


Chemical decomposition assisted by mechanical disintegration is 
persistently active in breaking down existing rocks and forming 
new types. Great pressures associated with folding and pressures 
due to weight of overlying material, together with other causes, 
bring about profound changes in the nature of rocks. Heat and 
the great element time are likewise effective. 

Humidity of climate, with its associated abundance of vegeta¬ 
tion in w r arm regions, resulting in the profuse liberation of organic 
acids in the ground water, is perhaps the most potent factor in 
rock alteration near the surface. Here, too, the impact of moving 
rain water and of wind, each with its burden of solid jjarticles, is 
felt by all exposed rocks. The freezing and thawing of water 
collected in small crevices exert intermittent expansive forces with 
disruptive effects, and the downward pull of gravity is ever present, 
searching out every weakness in rock support. 

Rocks buried beyond the reach of these weathering agencies 
are correspondingly slow in their rate of alteration, but here the 
effects of greater pressures come into play. All ground waters 
contain a greater or less quantity of the active chemical reagents, 
such as oxygen and carbon dioxide gas, promoting decomposi¬ 
tion. In general the rate of change is greater near the surface and 
decreases with depth. 

CLASSIFICATION OF ROCKS 

Types .—The term rock is applied to all solid material of which 
the earth is composed, whether it be compact, like granite, or uncon¬ 
solidated, like loose sand. 

Rocks are broadly classified with reference to origin into three 
types—igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. 

Igneous rocks are those which have solidified from a molten condi¬ 
tion caused by great heat within the earth. Volcanic lava and granite 
are good examples of this type. 


6 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


Sedimentary rocks are those which have been laid down by water 
or wind through erosion and deposition. Limestone and sandstone are 
good examples of this type. 

Metamorphic rocks are of either igneous or sedimentary origin, 
and have been profoundly changed by such agencies as pressure and 
heat. Gneiss and marble are good examples of this type, the former 
being derived from granite and the latter from limestone. 

All known rocks may be placed in one of the above three classes. 
The total amount of rock of sedimentary origin is very small compared 
with that of igneous origin. The latter theoretically might be con¬ 
sidered to extend to the centre of the earth, and all rock originally of 
igneous nature before erosion and deposition began. The sedi¬ 
mentary rocks are naturally found only as an outer coating of the 
earth, which, however, is known to reach a thickness of many thousand 
feet in some areas. A large portion of the earth’s surface is covered 
with thin deposits of loose alteration products, like sand, clay, and ordi¬ 
nary soil, more or less mixed. The more uniform, and usually more 
compact, rocks in place lie beneath this surface mantle. 

Igneous rocks generally occur in great irregularly shaped masses, 
while the sedimentary rocks are usually in distinct layers, which were 
more or less horizontal when deposited but often have been folded or 
broken by earth movements. 

Mineral contents .—All rock may be seen, by the aid of the mi¬ 
croscope or even by the unaided eye alone, to be an aggregate 
of relatively small particles. The substance of each particle has 
a definite chemical composition and distinct physical properties and 
is called a mineral. One, two, or more minerals may be present 
in the same rock. More than a thousand such minerals are 
known, but most of them are comparatively rare, and the great bulk 
of earth material is composed of less than twenty-five of these 
minerals. 


GENERAL GEOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES 


7 


Following is a tabulated list of sixteen of the more important 
minerals, showing their general chemical composition and physical 
nature: 


Table showing properties of 16 common minerals. 


Name 

Chemical Nature 

General description 

Quartz 

Oxide of Silicon. 

Resembles glass. 

Feldspar 

Silicate of aluminum, etc. 

Light colored, hard, distinct 
cleavage. 

Hornblende 

Complex silicate, usually of cal¬ 
cium, magnesium and iron. 

Usually dark colored, often 
greenish, hard. 

Pyroxene 

Complex silicate, usually of cal¬ 
cium, magnesium and iron. 

Usually dark, often greenish, 
hard. 

Calcite 

Calcium carbonate. 

Light colored, moderate hard¬ 
ness, effervesces with acids. 

Chlorite 

Silicate of Aluminum and mag¬ 
nesium with combined water. 

Greenish, splits readily into 
non-elastic thin leaves. 

Kaolin (clay) 

Silicate of aluminum with com¬ 
bined water. 

Light colored if pure, soft, 
plastic when wet. 

Dolomite 

Carbonate of calcium and mag¬ 
nesium. 

Light colored, moderately hard. 

Gypsum 

Calcium sulphate with com¬ 
bined water. 

Light colored to transparent, 
soft. 

Hematite 

Iron oxide. 

Red or brown, heavy. 

Limonite 

Oxide of iron with combined 
water. 

Yellow or brown, heavy. 

Magnetite 

Oxide of iron. 

Very dark, often black, hard, 
heavy. 

Black to transparent. Splits 
into thin flexible sheets. 

Mica 

Silicate of aluminum, etc. 

Serpentine 

Silicate of magnesium with 
combined water. 

Greenish, usually with light- 
colored streaks. 

Talc 

Magnesium sil ate with com¬ 
bined water. 

Light colored, often greenish, 
soft, feels greasy. 

Siderite 

Carbonate of iron. 

Usually brown, heavy. 


Of the sixteen common minerals tabulated above, quartz, feldspar, 
hornblende, and pyroxene are by far the most common, comprising 
probably three-fourths or more of all rocks. 












8 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


Pirsson 1 shows the average rock to have the following elementary 
composition, indicating 87.46 per cent of all rock material as being 
composed of the four elements oxygen, silicon, aluminum, and iron. 


Chemical Composition of the average rock. 

Per cent. 


Oxygen _47.07 

Silicon _28.06 

Aluminum_7.90 

Iron _4.43 

Calcium _._ 3.44 

Magnesium _2.40 

Sodium _2.43 

Potassium _2.45 

Hydrogen _ .22 

Titanium _ .40 

Carbon _ .20 

Chlorine _ .07 

Phosphorus _ .11 

Sulphur _ .11 

All other elements _ .71 


100.00 


Texture .—Igneous rocks which solidify at great depths beneath the 
surface cool slowly and are coarse grained, while those which come 
to or near the surface while still liquid cool rapidly and have a much 
finer texture. Very rapid cooling of rocks high in quartz content 
tends to produce a glassy texture. 

Rocks are named according to their origin, the minerals of which 
they are composed, and their texture. In general there is a meta- 
morphic rock corresponding to each igneous or sedimentary rock from 
which it was derived. Following is a list of several of the more com¬ 
mon rocks of each of the three main classes. In this classification 
the texture of a rock is considered, being termed course grained if the 
individual grains are large enough to be readily distinguishable to the 
unaided eye. 


lPirsson, L. V. f “Rocks and Rock Minerals,” p. 18, 1915. 



















GENERAL GEOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES 


9 


Table Showing Characters of some common rocks. 


Name 

Origin 

Mineral composition, etc. 

Texture 

Granite 

Igneous 

Mainly quartz and feldspar. 

Coarse grained. 

Felsite 

44 

Light-colored minerals of 

such small grain as to be 
indistinguishable to eye 
alone. 

Fine grained. 

Syenite 

44 

Mainly feldspar. 

Coarse grained. 

Diorite 

44 

Mainly feldspar and horn¬ 
blende. 

44 44 

Gabbro 

Basalt 

1 4 

44 

Mainly feldspar and pyroxene. 

Black or nearly black minerals of 
such small grain as to be in¬ 
distinguishable to the eye 
alone. 

44 44 

Fine grained. 

Sandstone 

Sedimentary 

Grains usually more or less 
rounded, mainly of quartz. 

Coarse grained. 

Limestone 

Clay 

44 

44 

Appreciably high in calcite. 

Mainly kaolin or associated 
mineral similar to kaolin. 

Variable. 

Fine grained. 

Shale 

44 

Similar to clay or mud. 

Fine grained, us¬ 
ually thinly lami¬ 
nated. 

Slate 

Metamorphic 

Similar to clay from which 
it was derived. 

Fine grained, splits 
into thin lay- 




ers. 

Gneiss 

44 

Similar to granite from which 
it was derived. 

Coarse grained, 

foliated, with 

more or less ten¬ 
dency to split 
into layers. 

Marble 

44 

Similar to pure limestone from 
which it was derived. 

Coarse grained. 


Most igneous rocks are hard and compact, but sedimentary 
rocks are usually softer and often only loosely consolidated. Sedi¬ 
mentary rocks contain many animal and vegetable remains. Lime¬ 
stone, sandstone, clay or shale, or some combination of these, are by 
far the most abundant types of sedimentary rocks, for earth material 
eroded and prepared for deposition will nearly always be converted 
into one of these materials. There is much greater diversity among 
igneous rocks and also among metamorphic rocks. 






















10 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


LIFE ON THE EARTH AND THE GEOLOGIC TIME TABLE 

The earth is very, very old. Abundant evidence likewise points 
to the great antiquity of animal and vegetable life, in comparison 
with which the earliest record of human life is quite recent. The 
ancient remains of animal and vegetable organisms, buried in sedi¬ 
mentary rocks during their deposition, ages ago, which are abun¬ 
dantly preserved in these rocks, tell us a great deal about the past 
history of the earth. Igneous rocks, however, and their metamor- 
phic derivatives never contain these remains. 

It has been universally observed that certain forms of organisms 
are found in certain sedimentary rocks, while in the overlying beds, 
which are consequently younger in age, many of these forms fail to 
appear and new ones take their place. It is also found that when a 
form disappears it never reappears in the younger rocks, except in 
the rare cases of recurrent forms due to migration. Thus the 
sedimentary rocks deposited during each period of the past have 
characteristic organisms which serve to identify them as belonging 
to that period of deposition. These animal and vegetable remains 
are called fossils. Some are microscopic in size while others are 
larger than most present day forms. The more common forms are 
shellfish of the general nature of modern clams and oysters. Usually 
only the harder parts of the body, such as shell, bone, and teeth, 
are preserved. The original material of the fossils is sometimes 
entirely and often partly replaced by mineral matter, the form, how¬ 
ever, being preserved. 

Fossils from all parts of the globe have been studied, classified, 
and named. Rocks of similar age contain similar fossils in all parts 
of the world. In addition to the time significance of the fossils they 
reflect the conditions under which the organisms lived. 

The rocks themselves, especially those of sedimentary origin, 
also give much information regarding the past. If certain results 
are produced by certain geologic processes today it is reasonable to 
assume that similar results were produced hv similar processes in 


GENERAL GEOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES 


11 


the past. On this basis, with the results of the past before us, main¬ 
ly in the form of the sedimentary record, we can tell a greatl deal 
about the conditions which must have produced the observed re¬ 
sults. Thus by studying almost any sedimentary bed at any local¬ 
ity it is possible to determine with greater or less certainty the 
conditions under which the bed was formed, i. e., the approximate 
depth of water, its degree of salinity, clarity, temperature, and cur¬ 
rent conditions, its proximity to land, and the nature of the surface 
rocks, topography, and climate. 

With data of these kinds diligently compiled from many parts 
of the world it has been possible to interpret! the past history of the 
earth and to arrange a time table of past events. The divisions of 
this table are in terms of earth movements, and the associated ero¬ 
sion and deposition cycles, and each subdivision has its character¬ 
istic fossils whereby rocks anywhere in the world may be more or 
less definitely correlated, showing at what time the formation in 
question was deposited. 

The record of earth events preserved in the rocks has been partly 
obliterated, however, through rock alteration and erosion, and there 
are gaps in the record wherever no sediments were deposited. Some 
of these breaks in the continuity of the record will no doubt be fill¬ 
ed in as newly discovered data become available, but many of the 
gaps will remain, for the data necessary to bridge them are no doubt 
hopelessly buried beyond human reach. 

The names of many of the time divisions are place names, refer¬ 
ring to the place where beds belonging to that period of deposition 
were first studied and classified. 

Following is the geologic time table used commonly through¬ 
out the Western Hemisphere. In the Eastern Hemisphere some dif¬ 
ferent names and different subdivisons are employed in parts of the 
table, but the time significance of the characteristic fossils is uni¬ 
versally constant. The divisions enumerated in the table have 
smaller subdivisions not shown, which vary in name and from one 


12 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


area to another, but the rocks were deposited during the same gen¬ 
eral epoch. For example, Miocene time is represented in Georgia 
by the Alum Bluff formation, the Marks Head marl, and the Duplin 
marl, while in certain southern California areas the Miocene em¬ 
braces the Vaqueros formation and the Modelo formation. 


Geologic Time Table. 


Era. 

Period of System. 

Epoch or Series. 

Cenozoic 

Quaternary 

Recent 

Pleistocene 

Tertiary 

Pliocene 

Miocene 

Oligocene 

Eocene 

Mesozoic 

Cretaceous 

Upper Cretaceous 

Lower Cretaceous 

Jurassic 

Triassic 


Paleozoic 

Carboniferous 

Permian 

Pennsylvanian 

Mississippian 

Devonian 

Silurian 

Ordovician 

Cambrian 


Proterozoic 

Alg-onkian 

Archean 



The age of any bed of rock or any event in earth history is re¬ 
ferred to one of the divisions of the above table, fundamentally on 
the evidence of fossils. Geologic time is measured in terms of these 
divisions and not in years. For example, we would say that a cer¬ 
tain bed of rock is of Eocene age or of Cretaceous age, as shown 
by fossils in the bed itself or in another bed with established time 
relations to the one under consideration. 




























GENERAL GEOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES 


13 


The question of the age of the earth in terms of years has been 
asked many times but never answered in an entirely satisfactory 
manner. Several methods have been used in attacking this diffi¬ 
cult problem. 

Assuming that the earth was once molten, calculations have been 
made of the time required for it to cool to its present temperature. 

Another method is based on the measurement of the rates at 
which sedimentary rocks are today being deposited and eroded, and 
comparing the results with the measured thicknesses of sediments 
of the various periods in the time table. 

A third method is based on the comparatively recently deter¬ 
mined fact that the element uranium, of its own accord, changes to 
radium, which in turn changes to lead, the transformations al¬ 
ways taking place at fixed rates, which have been determined. Thus 
by measuring the amount of each of the above elements in a rock, 
and determining certain radioactive properties, the age of the 
rock may be calculated in years. 

The results of these age calculations vary widely. The time 
which has elapsed since the deposition of the oldest known sedi¬ 
mentary rocks, that is, since early Archean time, is placed as short 
as a few million years in some calculations and as great as more 
than a billion years in others. The present tendency is to regard 
the last named method, that of the rate of transformation of ele¬ 
ments, as the most accurate. This method indicates that more than 
a billion years have passed since the beginning of geologic time. 

SUMMARY OF GEOLOGIC HISTORY 

The sequence of past events, referred to the standard time table, 
presents an interesting story of the earth. Some of the major events 
of this story connected with the North American continent are briefly 
summarized in the following outline. 

Pre-Archean time. —Pre-Archean history is extremely theoretic 
and deals largely with the origin of the earth and the changes which 


14 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


took place before its present general form and nature were attained. 

Numerous theories have been advanced regarding the origin of 
the earth. One of the most popular theories is that the sun was once 
surrounded by an extremely hot and rarefied gaseous material which 
revolved about the central mass. In the course of time the outer rare¬ 
fied gas tended to segregate about localized nuclei as centres of concen¬ 
tration. As these segregations cooled they condensed into molten mat- • 
ter, which on further cooling solidified and formed the earth and 
other planets. 

According to another and later theory, large masses of hot, gaseous 
matter were thrown off from the sun. Condensation and later solid¬ 
ification took place. Gravity and collision are supposed to have 
united the numerous small bodies into a few larger ones, resulting in 
the formation of the various planets, including the earth. 

A long time interval probably elapsed between the formation of 
the earth and earliest known sedimentation. 

Proterozoic era .—The Archean period marks the beginning of def¬ 
initely recorded earth history. Rocks of this age are found through¬ 
out a large part of Canada, in portions of the Appalachian province, 
and in certain Rocky Mountain areas. These rocks are all metamor- 
phic, having been derived from both igneous and sedimentary types. 
There is evidence of earth movements elevating the land and forming 
mountain chains, of erosion and deposition, and of the advance and 
retreat of seas, together with other natural processes which have been 
going on ever since, constantly changing the surface of the earth. 

There is no proof of life in the Archean, but the presence of cer¬ 
tain mineral deposits in rocks of this age could best be explained by 
life on the globe at that time. Metamorphism has so altered the 
rocks as to obliterate all life forms which may once have been present. 
The period closed with a general continental uplift pushing back the 
everchanging ocean shore lines. 

Algonkian rocks are in many ways similar to the Archean. The lat¬ 
ter have the same general distribution as the former, from which they 


GENERAL GEOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES 


15 


are often inseparable. The Lake Superior deposits of iron and cop¬ 
per belong to rocks of these two periods. The oldest recognizable re¬ 
mains of life are of Algonkian age. In most of these rocks, however, 
as in the Archean, alteration has destroyed all evidence of organisms 
which may have existed. 

Paleozoic era .—The Paleozoic marks the earliest time of which we 
have abundant fossil remains of life. Many of these forms are rather 
advanced types, suggesting the antecedent life indicated in the earlier 
periods. The geologic record is much more complete subsequent to 
the beginning of the Paleozoic than in the older rocks. Some of the 
greatest known deposits of coal and petroleum are found in formations 
of this age, especially those of Carboniferous time, during which the 
climate was very warm and land surfaces swampy over a large part 
of the world, regardless of latitude. Throughout North America the 
general continental outline remained constant. Several areas, gen¬ 
erally confined to the outer edges of the continent, remained persist¬ 
ently above water during the numerous shallow-sea invasions and re¬ 
treats over vast inland areas. The Mississippi River drainage basin 
underwent submergence and emergence many times. Paleozoic time 
is marked by the great development of invertebrate animals, fishes, 
and fernlike plants. Life during the late Paleozoic was adapted to 
the warm, low, swampy conditions which generally prevailed. 

The era closed with a general uplift forming the Appalachian 
Mountains, many times higher than their present-day remains, which 
are mere remnants of these giant ancestors, worn down and softened 
in contour by subsequent erosion. 

Mesozoic era .—Mesozoic continental sea inundations were less 
widespread than during the Paleozoic. The Cretaceous sea, which 
was the most extensive of the era, connected the present Gulf of 
Mexico with the Arctic Ocean, dividing the continent into eastern and 
western portions. Climate during the early Mesozoic was generally 
arid. 


16 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


Mesozoic life was characterized by the great number of huge rep¬ 
tiles, whose remains constitute the most spectacular forms of the muse¬ 
ums of the world. These great animals, however, like other forms, be¬ 
came extinct when changes brought about new living conditions, and 
new forms appeared to take their place. The era saw the appearance 
of birds, flowering plants, and primitive mammals. Great quanti¬ 
ties of petroleum are found in the late Mesozoic rocks. The Rocky 
Mountains were formed during a widespread uplift at the close of 
the era. 

Cenozoic era .—Throughout Cenozoic time a greater part of the 
continent has maintained an elevation above sea level. Sea transgres¬ 
sions have taken place as in previous eras, but have covered relatively 
smaller portions of the land. The present land area is almost as large 
as the continental mass which has had a tendency to retain its identity 
throughout the ages, the invading seas having been relatively shallow 
and superficial. 

Life during the Cenozoic has been characterized by the mammals, 
human life apparently being first recorded in the Pliocene. Parts of 
the Pleistocene were very cold, attended by glaciers covering a large 
part of Canada and extending as far south as Ohio. The Great Lakes 
were formed by these glaciers, which on melting have gradually re¬ 
ceded northward. The present Arctic ice cap and some of the more 
southerly glaciers are apparently the remnants of the last Pleistocene 
ice sheets. 

Conclusions .—In considering the general plan of things outlined in 
earth history one is forcibly impressed by certain general principles 
which become evident. 

The vastness of geologic time cannot be comprehended by the hu¬ 
man mind with its finite limitations, and the true perspective of earth 
events is lost. 

The face of the earth appears to remain constant. The mountains, 
hills, plains, rivers, oceans, and other common physical features of the 


PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS 


17 


earth are apparently everlasting, because they may only be observed 
throughout a relatively short period of time, but in reality the face of 
the earth is ever changing, in great cycles of events. 

Life forms on the earth are continually changing as new living 
conditions arise. 

The events of earth history proceed in an efficient and orderly 
fashion, in response to natural laws. These laws are not all perfectly 
known, but to the extent that they are understood we are able to inter¬ 
pret past geologic events. 

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS RELATIVE TO PETROLEUM 

AND NATURAL GAS 

DEFINITIONS OF TEEMS 

The word petroleum means rock oil. It is the name applied to 
an inflammable mixture of oily hydrocarbons which comes from the 
earth through natural seepages or from flowing or pumped wells. 
The average petroleum consists of an intimate mixture of gasoline, 
kerosene, lubricating oils, and paraffin or asphalt or both, each of 
which contains numerous compounds of carbon and hydrogen. 

Petroleum has been known, under various names, for many 
centuries. It was known to the early Persians, Greeks, and Romans 
under the name of naptha. The term bitumen was used by the 
Romans to cover all the natural occurring hydrocarbons which are 
now known under the terms of petroleum, maltha, and asphaltum 
or asphalt. 

Asphaltum is the dark, solid to semi-solid residue left after the 
evaporation of the lighter constituents (gasoline, kerosene, etc.) 
of one class of petroleum. 

Maltha is the name applied to the pasty, oily substance mid¬ 
way in consistency between petroleum and asphaltum. 

Natural or rock gas is a gaseous mixture, usually combustible, 
and formed naturally in the earth. It is sometimes found is- 


18 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


suing through natural openings, but is generally obtained by bor¬ 
ing. Natural gas is quite commonly associated with both petro¬ 
leum and coal. 

USES OF PETROLEUM 

The uses of petroleum and its products are many and varied. 
The main uses are for the generating of power, heat, and light, 
and for purposes of lubrication. The chief products of petroleum, 
ranked in order of total money value, are: (1) Gasoline; (2) 

kerosene; (3)fuel oils; (4) lubricants. There are, in addition, 
some three hundred or more miscellaneous products. 

HISTORICAL NOTES 

Petroleum, asphalt, and maltha have been known since earliest 
historic times. References to petroleum and allied substances are 
to be found in the Bible and in the early Greek and Latin litera¬ 
ture. In the early days, and until relatively recent date, the petro¬ 
leum and asphalt were obtained from seeps, springs, and dug pits. 

Although petroleum has been exploited for a century or more 
in Alsace and Burma, by means of deep dug shafts, the modern 
technology of oil drilling had its principal developments in the Ap¬ 
palachian region of the United States and in the Petrolia region of 
Ontario, Canada. The rotary type of drill was developed in the 
Gulf Coast region of Texas. 

In the United States, between the years 1840 and 1860 there was 
considerable activity in the distilling of oil from coal and shale. 
By the year 1860 there were more than fifty distilling companies 
in the United States. In 1854 a company was organized to drill 
for oil, but the company failed and no well was drilled. In Au¬ 
gust, 1859, the first oil well in the United States was drilled by Col. 
Edwin L. Drake, near Titusville, Pa., to a depth of 69*4 feet. 
Since that date the oil industry has developed with great rapidity, 
until in 1921 there were produced in the United States alone 472,- 


PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS 


19 


183,000 1 barrels of crude oil. In 1920 there were more than 400 
refineries and approximately 30,000 miles of transportation pipe 
lines in the United States. Up to the end of 1920 the United 
States had produced 5,429,693,000 2 barrels of petroleum, or approx¬ 
imately 62 per cent of the world’s total production. 

GEOLOGIC DISTRIBUTION 

The age of rocks producing oil or gas, or both, range from 
Cambrian to Recent. The Cambrian of New York has produced a 
small amount of gas and the Cambrian of Alberta, British Colum¬ 
bia, and Quebec, Canada, has produced a little petroleum. Probably 
the oldest formation that has been of real commercial importance 
as a producer is the Trenton limestone, of Ordovician age. Of 
the oil produced in the world approximately 55 to 60 per cent has 
come from rocks of Tertiary age, with the Paleozoic of the United 
States ranking next, followed by the rocks of Mesozoic age. 

The following table, taken from Johnson and Huntley’s “Oil and 
Gas Production,” page 28, shows the relative importance of the 
major producing formations: 


Order of Prominence 3 

Oil Gas 


(1) 

Tertiary 

(1) 

Devonian 

(2) 

Carboniferous 

(2) 

Carboniferous 

(3) 

Cretaceous 

(3) 

Cretaceous 

(4) 

Devonian 

(4) 

Silurian 

(5) 

Ordovician 

(5) 

Ordovician 

(6) 

Silurian 

(6) 

Tertiary 


Theoretically, the older the rocks the greater the proportion of 
gas to oil, but, due to the fact that the older rocks are normally more 
inaccessible, they do not actually produce the most gas. 


lU. S. Geological Survey Statistics. 

2 Day, David T., “Handbook of the Petroleum Industry,” Vol. I, pp. 324- 
325, 1922. 


3Rank for oil is on potential basis; rank for gas on present production. 



20 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION 

The area covered by the producing oil fields is small when com¬ 
pared with the size of the earth as a whole. More than half of the 
world’s supply of petroleum is concentrated in two areas, one 
around the Gulf of Mexico—Caribbean Sea region, and the other 
around the Caucasian axis. Each represents about 2 per cent of 
the world’s area, and each has produced about 30 per cent of the 
world’s petroleum. 

The oil supply of the world is about equally divided between 
the eastern and western hemispheres. The northern hemisphere, 
however, produces today about five times as much oil as does the 
Southern hemisphere. This is accounted for in part by the fact 
that the land area of the Northern hemisphere is approximately 
five times that of the Southern, and in part by the different charac¬ 
ter of the rocks in the two hemispheres. 

At the present time all the five continents are producers of oil. 
They rank as follows: (1) North America, (2) Europe, (3) Asia, 
(4) South America, (5) Africa. The East and West Indian Is¬ 
lands are also producers. 

The producing areas of the United States as ranked in order of 
importance in 1920 are: 1 (1) Mid-Continent (Oklahoma, Kansas, 
Missouri, northern and central Texas, and northern Louisiana) ; (2) 
California; (3) Appalachian; (4) Gulf; (5) Rocky Mountain (Wy¬ 
oming, Montana, North Dakota, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, 
Idaho, and Oregon); (6) Illinois; (7) Lima-Indiana. 

FUTURE SUPPLY 

In the past fifty years the United States has produced approxi¬ 
mately 62 per cent of the world’s petroleum. Between 1913 and 
1921 the demands of the United States for petroleum and its pro- 

lDay, David T., “Handbook of the Petroleum Industry,” Vol. 1, p. 327, 1922. 
At end of 1922 rank of Appalachian and Gulf areas reversed. Arkansas now 
included in Mid-Continent. 



PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS 


21 


ducts have increased about 75 per cent. It is highly probable that 
the peak of the petroleum production has been reached, and the 
trend today is towards more refined distillation methods and less 
wasteful production methods. 

The world’s potential supply of crude petroleum is perhaps most 
generally placed as being sufficient to last sixteen to eighteen years. 
That does not mean, however, that there will be no production be¬ 
yond eighteen years, but it represents the time which it is figured 
would be sufficient to exhaust the actual and potential supplies 
were they developed and used at the present rate. 

The world’s future supply of petroleum will probably come in 
large part from distillation of oil shales, such as the Green River 
(Eocene) shales of Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado, and from the 
distillation of torbanite or cannel coal. 

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES 

The physical properties most commonly used in describing pe¬ 
troleum are specific gravity, base, color, odor, viscosity* expansion, 
flash point, and calorific value. 

Specific Gravity .—The specific gravity of an oil is one of the 
most commonly used means of designating its character. Oils range 
In specific gravity from 0.733 or below to 1.000 or slightly above, 
as compared to an equal volume of distilled water, taken as 1.000. 
This decimal system is very extensively used throughout Europe, 
but in the United States the Baume scale‘is employed almost with¬ 
out exception. The Baume scale is a purely arbitrary one, in which 
the weight of water is placed at 10°, the degrees increasing as the 
weight of the liquid decreases, so that the higher the value Baume 
the lighter the oil. To convert degrees Baume to the decimal standard 
the U. S. Bureau of Sandards gives the following formula, in which 
the density is taken at 60 degrees F.: 


22 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


140 

°Baum6 — - — 130 

Specific gravity of liquid 

Specific gravity Baum§ 

1.0000 10 

0.8750 30 

0.7368 60 


In general the lighter crude oils, or those of higher Baume value, 
yield larger proportions of gasoline and kerosene and are thus of 
more value. Exceptions to this are natural lubricating oils, which 
are scarce and command a high price, and some of the heavier oils 
low in gasoline but high in sulphur-free lubricating stock. 

Base .—The “base” of an oil refers to the residue left after the 
lighter constituents have been removed. Petroleums fall into two 
general classes, those of paraffin base and those of asphalt base. 
There is, in addition, what essentially constitutes a third class, ivhich 
is intermediate between the above given classes and contains both 
paraffin and asphalt. 

In general the paraffin base oils are lighter and yield gasoline, 
kerosene and light lubricants. The asphalt base oils are usually the 
heavier oils and are commonly low in gasoline but high in lubri¬ 
cants and fuel oil. 

Color .—Petroleum has a wide range in colors, varying from pale- 
straw and light-lemon yellow colors through greens, reds, and 
browns to nearly black. By transmitted light most crude oils are 
transculent, although some are opaque in very thin bodies. By re¬ 
flected light the crude oils usually have a dark greenish cast, whereas 
the refined products very commonly have a bluish, irridescent color. 

Odor .—Crude oils vary in odor, but in general the odors of the 
oils from various fields are fairly constant. In general the Penn¬ 
sylvania oils have a gasoline odor, the oils of Texas and California 
more commonly have the odor of coal tar, while some of the Lima- 
Indiana and Louisiana oils have a strong sulphurous smell. 



PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS 


23 


Viscosity .—The viscosity of an oil is of major importance as 
related to recovery, pumping, and piping. Oils range from those 
of high viscosity, which approach the consistency of molasses, down 
to the very fluid oils of low viscosity which flow nearly as readily as 
water. In general the asphalt base oils are the more viscous. Some 
of the less viscous paraffin base oils may, however, offer greater pip¬ 
ing and pumping difficulties than some of the more viscous oils, be¬ 
cause a release of pressure may precipitate paraffin wax, thereby 
clogging pipes and pumps. 

Expansion .—Oils have a tendency to expand with a rise of tem¬ 
perature. The amount of this expansion is of importance in gaging 
for pipe lines and storage tanks. Expansion is determined by the 
use of graduated hydrometers, having corrections for temperature. 

Flash point .—The flash point of an oil is a measure of its tendency 
to volatilize into combustible gases. This tendency increases with 
rise in temperature, and the temperature at which the vapor will 
ignite under arbitrarily standardized conditions is called the flash 
point of that particular oil. 

Flash point is of vital importance in governing the safety with 
which oils may be handled and transported, and also in determining 
whether it falls into the illuminating-oil class or into the naptha 
class, to be burned as a vapor in internal combustion engines. 

Calorific value .—The calorific or heat value of oils varies with 
the different oils. It is of primary importance in determining the 
fuel value of an oil. Calorific value is usually expressed in British 
Thermal Units, one B.T.U. being the amount of heat required to raise 
one pound of water one degree in temperature, Fahrenheit. The fol¬ 
lowing figures, in B.T.U.’s per pound of material, give a comparison 
of values: Wood 5,040; peat 7,500; coke 11,500; coal 10)500; fuel oil 
18,000 to 22,000. When these value figures are considered alone 
they give good evidence of the desirability of oil for fuel, but when it 
is remembered that the storage of oil requires far less space per 
given amount of available energy, together with its ease of handling 


24 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


and transportation, it can be very readily seen why the demand for 
fuel oil is so great. 

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION 

Petroleum and natural gas are not simple compounds but are 
mixtures of compounds of carbon and hydrogen. There are also 
usually present various impurities, such as sulphur, nitrogen, etc., in 
variable but usually small amounts. The following series of hydro¬ 
carbons that have been found in petroleum is taken from Mabery 1 . 

(1) CnH2n+2 

(2) CnH2n 

(3) CnH2n—2 

(4) CnH2n—4 

(5) CnH2n—6 

Of the above, number (1), the paraffin series, number (2), the 
olefine series, and number (5), the aromatic or benzine series, are 
the most common. 

DISTILLATION FRACTIONS 

The exact chemical analysis of an oil is not as desirable to know 
as are the fractions or proportions of products that may be obtained 
on distillation. These fractions are the measure of the value of an oil. 
The fraction which is distilled off between the initial boiling point 
and 150°C. constitutes the gasoline fraction; that which comes off 
between 150°C. and 300°C. constitutes the kerosene fraction. Above 
300°C. the various lubricating oils come off in progressive order. 
The residues left are either further treated by cracking or are used 
as fuel oils, paraffin, asphalt, or binder material for briquetting 
powdered fuel. 

CLASSIFICATION OF OILS 

Crude oils are broadly classified according to the residual material 
left after boiling off the lighter constituents, usually embracing gaso¬ 
line, kerosene, and a part of the lubricating fractions. The residue 


iMabery, C. F., Trans. A. I. M. & M. E., Vol. LXV, p. 505, 1921. 



PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS 


25 


is normally heavy and viscous. This classification gives three types, 
namely: (1) Paraffin base oils or those with a paraffin residue, (2) 

asphalt base oils or those with a residue of asphaltic nature, and (3) 
mixed base oils which give residues containing paraffin and asphalt. 

The paraffin base oils are characteristic of the Appalachian fields. 
They are light in color, generally varying from pale-straw through 
the yellows and browns. They are relatively fluid, and their content 
of gasoline and other volatile constituents is high. Their odor is 
usually that of a refined product and not unpleasant. Chemically 
these oils are high in hydrocarbons of the paraffin series and low in 
sulphur and oxygen compounds. They are high Baume gravity, that 
is of low density, and consistent with the qualities enumerated bring 
a high price, due to their content of gasoline, kerosene, and high 
grade lubricant stock and being low in the harmful sulphur and 
oxygen compounds. 

The asphalt base oils prevail generally in the Mexican, Texas Gulf 
Coast, and some California fields. Their properties are in general the 
reverse of those of the paraffin base oils. They are of high viscosity, 
low Baume gravity, very dark or black in color, and have a disagree¬ 
able odor. The percentage of gasoline is low. Chemically the as¬ 
phaltic oils are high in sulphur and oxygen compounds and low in 
members of the paraffin series of hydrocarbons. These oils are gener¬ 
ally of low market value and often have a very high percentage of 
constituents suited best for fuel. 

Mixed base oils, which are common in North Texas, Oklahoma, and 
some Rocky Mountain areas, quite naturally possess properties in¬ 
termediate in position between the other two types. 

The classification given above is commercially useful, as it is 
generally directly related to the market value of the oil. From a 
scientific viewpoint, however, it is not exact, for the expressed re¬ 
lations of the physical and chemical properties are not always strictly 


true. 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


2U 


Petroleum is sometimes broadly referred to high-sulphur and low- 
sulphur classes. This, with some exceptions, is simply another ex¬ 
pression of the asphalt-base and paraffin-base types, respectively, 
and is correspondingly an index especially to the value of the lubri¬ 
cant stock content, the quality of which is largely dependent upon 
the amount of harmful sulphur compounds present. 

It would be very difficult to arrange a concise classification of the 
petroleums, for their properties would overlap from one proposed class 
to another, rendering such a classification of little value. 

RELATIONS BETWEEN PETROLEUM, COAL, AND NATURAL GAS 

General relations .—The frequent occurrence of petroleum, coal, 
and natural gas in the same geological formation and the relations of 
each of these substances to the others has been a popular field of in¬ 
vestigation among petroleum geologists. 

A great deal is known about petroleum. Its chemical nature has 
been partly worked out, its physical properties have been more or less 
fully determined, and its mode of formation and alteration at least 
partly established. However, its highly complex chemical nature 
and the readiness with which its constituents decompose during analy¬ 
sis, together with the fact that it is often separated from its source, 
have all been instrumental in presenting many problems which have 
not been solved. There is, therefore, much that is unknown concern¬ 
ing petroleum. 

The nature and origin of coal and the changes which it undergoes 
subsequent to its formation are fairly well understood. 

The general nature and properties of natural gas have been de¬ 
termined, and the process of its formation under specified conditions 
can often be traced step by step, but there are numerous conditions 
which might result in the formation of similar gases, and, too, the 
mobile nature of gas may permit migration away from its source. 
Consequently it is often difficult to determine the genetic history of 
any particular deposit of natural gas. It is a definitely established 


PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS 


27 


fact, however, that most deposits of natural gas have been derived 
from either petrolum or coal. 

The paraffin series .—Although chemically petroleums are known 
to contain members of at least five series of the carbon-hydrogen com¬ 
pounds, certain general relations are clearly brought out by a con¬ 
sideration of one of these series of hydrocarbons, namely, the paraffin 
or methane series, which is a principal constituent of the oils of the 
Appalachian fields. 

The paraffin series has the general chemical formula CnH 2 n+ 2 
That is, in each member of the series the number of hydrogen atoms 
is twice as great as the number of carbon atoms, plus two. 

Following is a tabulated list of some of the more common mem¬ 
bers of the paraffin series, showing the name, chemical formula, boil¬ 
ing point, Baume gravity, and consistency of each, also the commer¬ 
cial products into which the members fall. The table is necessarily 
generalized and is intended to show general relations only, for the 
complex nature of the hydrocarbons and variation in refinery practice 
precludes precision. 

Some common members of the paraffin series 


Consistency 

Name 

B. P. C. 

Be. 

Chemical 

formula 

Products 


Methane 

—164° 


C H4 



Ethane 

—84.1° 


C2 H6 


Normally gases 

Propane 

—37° 


C3 HS 

Natural gas 


Butane 

+ 1° 


C4 HlO 



Pentane 

37° 

CD 

05 

o 

C5 H12 



Hexane 

69° 

83° 

C6 HI 4 


Normally 

Heptane 

98° 

75° 

C7 H16 

Gasoline and 

liquids 

Octane 

125° 

69° 

C‘8 HI 8 

Kerosene 


Nonane 

150° 

65° 

C9 H20 



Decane 

173° 

62° 

CIO H22 


Normally thick 





Lubricants, 

liquids and 

Lower mem- 




Paraffin and 

solids 

bers 




thick resi- 






dues. 

(Note: 

B. P. C.=Boiling point Centigrade; 

Be. = Baume 

gravity). 
































28 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


An examination of the above table reveals a number of important 
relations which are true of petroleum in general. The series is ar¬ 
ranged in order of increasing number of carbon and hydrogen atoms 
as we pass to the lower members, the ratio CnHn +2, however, 
being maintained. 

The first four members are normally gases. This is clearly shown 
by their low temperature boiling points. Ordinary natural gas em¬ 
braces this group. Below the gases are numerous members which are 
normally liquids, including the gasoline, kerosene, and some of the 
lubricant fractions. Passing still lower in the series we find sub¬ 
stances which are solids under ordinary conditions. These are the 
chief constituents of paraffin wax. Thus as we pass from higher to 
lower members we find in progressive order a gradational change in 
consistency from the gaseous state to that of a liquid and finally to 
a solid. Similarly, the boiling points show a steady decrease in ten¬ 
dency to volatize, with a corresponding decrease in Baume gravity. 

The refining of oil utilizes the difference in bQiling points as a 
means of separating the commercial products. Also it has been found 
that the application of high temperatures under proper conditions 
will cause the lower members to decompose chemically, splitting up 
into new members with fewer atoms higher up in the series.This pro¬ 
cess is called cracking and increases the high value gasoline recov¬ 
ery from an oil by changing into gasoline the lower members which 
would normally bring a lower price. 

Simultaneously with this increase in the higher members, new mem¬ 
bers are formed which fall very low in the series and contain some 
free carbon as well as concentrated impurities. In refining these are 
embraced in the heavy residue. Thus the cracking process generates 
light, volatile products, and also heavy residues with free carbon, 
from the same material. 

In Nature the cracking process is constantly going on. Here the 
heat is usually less intense than in artificial refining, but the time 



PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS 


29 


is greatly increased, and such additional factors as very high pressure, 
movement, shale filtration, etc., come into action, and the result is 
similar to that in artificial refining. Petroleum in the earth, there¬ 
fore, is constantly changing. An ideal type expression of this change 
would be the alteration of an average-grade petroleum into high-grade, 
light petroleum and asphalt. The former would in turn go over to 
still lighter products and finally to natural gas, while the latter would 
correspondingly be lowered in grade with an increase in fixed carbon, 
eventually forming graphite. 

The factors, pressure, heat, movement, etc., which bring about the 
alteration of petroleum, are associated with and roughly proportion¬ 
ate to earth folding and general deformation of the strata. The in¬ 
tensity of deformation, with due consideration to the time element 
and pressures due to overlying rocks, is therefore an index to the stage 
of alteration reached by any petroleum present. Obviously if the 
oil has reached the gas and asphalt or graphite stage it is no longer 
recoverable as liquid oil. 

During all stages of alteration except the very last, when graphite 
is being formed petroleum is low in free carbon and soluble in such 
solvents as carbon disulphide, ether, and chloroform. There is also 
a tendency of the thick or solid phases of petroleum to melt on the 
application of heat. Petroleum is normally regarded as being derived 
from animal and vegetable material deposited in salt water. 

Coals .—Coal is formed from vegetation covered by water which 
shuts out the air, thereby preventing decay. The conditions necessary 
to the formation of coal are commonly fulfilled in many swamps of 
the present time, where plant matter falls into the water, gradually 
sinks into the mud and is sealed up away from oxodizing conditions 
which cause decay. 

The main constituent of vegetable matter is cellulose, a compound 
of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. 

Just as petroleum is altered by such factors as pressure, heat, move¬ 
ment, time, etc., the buried plant remains undergo a natural distil- 


30 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


lation liberating methane gas, water vapor and other gases, at the 
same time forming free carbon. During the earlier stages of the 
change bacterial action is probably important. In the course of time 
the material successively passes through the stages of peat, lignite, 
and bituminous coal, and, if the alteration factors are sufficient in 
magnitude, the anthracite coal stage and finally the graphite stage 
are reached. Each of these substances is derived from the preceding 
one with the liberation of volatile matter and an increase in fixed car¬ 
bon. The latter is absent in the original vegetable matter and con¬ 
stitutes nearly 100 per cent of graphite, while volatile matter in the 
vegetation is high and almost absent in graphite. 

Coals are relatively insoluble and usually do not melt on heating. 
Most of them are low in condensable hydrocarbon gases. They are 
normally a product of the land and usually of fresh or brackish water 
burial. 

Natural gases .—By far the most important of the natural gases 
are the hydrocarbon gases already discussed in connection with petrol¬ 
eum and coal, from which they are derived. In addition the follow¬ 
ing gases are found more or less associated with those mentioned: 
Air, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulphide, 
argon, xenon, neon, crypton, and helium. 

The hydrocarbon gases are all inflammable. They are often divid¬ 
ed into two groups, namely, the dry or non-condensable group and 
the wet or condensable group. Dry gas consists largely of methane, 
which as indicated in the paraffin series table, is the highest and most 
volatile member of the oil series. It is so highly volatile, with a boil¬ 
ing point of—164° Centigrade, that it will remain in a gaseous con¬ 
dition, resisting ordinary liquification methods, such as application 
of low temperatures and reasonable pressures. It is consequently 
called a dry gas. Wet gases, as the name indicates, may be readily 
condensed into the liquid state. This group is high in ethane, propane, 
and butane. These gases have higher boiling points than methane 
and are more readily condensed. Along with these three members, 


PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS 


31 


which, as indicated, are normally in the gaseous state, there is usual¬ 
ly more or less volatilized pentane and hexane. 

Wet gases on condensation yield an important commercial product, 
casing-head gasoline, which is naturally highly volatile and dangerous 
to handle. It is usually mixed with kerosene to give an intermediate 
product known as blended gasoline. Wet gases are considered to have 
been recently in contact with liquid petroleum. Dry gas does not 
necessarily have significance with reference to oil, for it may have 
come from other sources. 

The gases mentioned as being associated with those of a hydro¬ 
carbon nature have no known direct connection with oil. They are 
non-condensable and are sometimes referred to the dry gases along 
with the non-condensable hydrocarbon gases. With the exception of 
carbon mon-oxide and hydrogen sulphide these associated gases are 
not inflammable. Air in natural gas is thought to represent atmos¬ 
phere entrapped in the rocks. Nitrogen is often the residue from 
air after removal of the oxygen. Carbon dioxide and carbon mon¬ 
oxide are common oxidation products of vegetable matter. Hydro¬ 
gen sulphide is often generated by the decomposition of pyrite, 
which is a very common mineral. Argon, xenon, neon, krpton, and 
helium usually occur only in small quantities. All of these ex¬ 
cept helium probably are derived mostly from the atmosphere. 
Helium is thought to come from the spontaneous alteration of ra¬ 
dium. It is very light and is incombustible. Due to these prop¬ 
erties it may be used to inflate dirigible balloons. 

Summary .—Following is a tabular summary showing some gen¬ 
eral relations between the petroleum or paraffin series and the coal 
series, each of which contributes to the world’s supply of natural 
gases. 


32 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


Comparison of Petroleum Series and Coal Series 
Petroleum series Coal series 


Gas 

Light petroleum 

Heavy petroleum 

Asphalt Cannel Coal 

Graphite 

Mainly liquid or semi-liquid, low in fix¬ 
ed carbon, relatively soluble in carbon 
disulphide, chloroform and ether, melt 
on heating, high in condensable hydro¬ 
carbons. Series principally of salt 
water origin, from animal and vegeta¬ 
ble matter. 


Vegetation 

Peat 

Lignite 

Bituminous coal 
Anthracite coal 
Graphite 

Mainly solids, high in fixed carbon 
relatively insoluble in carbon disul¬ 
phide, chloroform, and ether, do not 
melt on heating, low in condensable 
hydrocarbons. Series principally of 
fresh-water origin, from vegetable 
matter. 


In examination of the table it is of interest to note that asphalt of 


the petroleum series merges into certain bituminous coal known as 
cannel coal. At this point the chemical and physical properties of 
each series are about the same. This relation suggests that petroleum 
might be formed from coal, but the theory is not well substantiated. 
Although petroleum and coal are often found in the same area, one 
overlying the other, they normally occur in different beds deposited 
under different conditions of sedimentation. The stratigraphic re¬ 
lation is generally such that obviously the petroleum and coal have 
come from a different source. 


The commonly accepted general relations between petroleum, coal, 
and natural gas have been outlined, but there is not sufficient knowl¬ 
edge on the subject to define the boundaries with precision. It is not 
known to what extent the same material might be capable of forming 
either series, or to what degree it is possible for members of one se¬ 
ries to be converted into material falling into the other. It is also 
noted that graphite is a common resultant product of both petroleum 
and coal. It seems that the exact laws governing the relations be¬ 
tween petroleum and coal have not been ascertained. 

In testing new areas for oil it is of vital importance to know 
whether the alteration of any possible petroleum present has pro¬ 
gressed beyond the liquid-oil stage. Very often coal beds of greater 
or less magnitude are present at or near the surface and available for 


PETROLEUM P088IIULITI EE OP GEORGIA 


PLATE II 



A. BARNWELL SANDSTONE, CLARKE’S MILL, JEFFERSON COUNTY, 7 1 /. MILES 

NORTHWEST OF LOUISVILLE. 

















CONDITIONS ESSENTIAL TO COMMERCIAL OIL 33 

study. As stated elsewhere in this report, David White has approxi¬ 
mately defined the limit beyond which petroleum is more or less 
completely converted into other products, in terms of the per cent 
of fixed carbon in the coal of the area, on a pure coal basis. He 
has found that where the fixed carbon ratio is greater than about 65 
per cent most of the petroleum will have passed beyond the liquid 
state. Coal of this 65 per cent stage falls in the bituminous class. 

CONDITIONS ESSENTIAL TO THE FORMATION OF PETRO¬ 
LEUM IN COMMERCIAL QUANTITIES 

Commercial production of petroleum is dependent on a number of 
factors. These have been grouped by the writers under the four 
major headings of (1) source, (2) conversion, (3) accumulation, and 
(4) retention. 

There must first be material from which oil may be derived, and 
this material needs then to be converted into liquid oil. After the 
formation of the liquid petroleum it is necessary that it be collected 
in commercial quantities, and it must be retained both during conver¬ 
sion and during succeeding time. All four of the above major condi¬ 
tions must be fulfilled and not one can be omitted. 

The question of origin of petroleum is here not treated separately, 
but is briefly discussed under the headings of “Source” and “Accu¬ 
mulation. ’ ’ ^ 

SOURCE 

There are two main theories advanced for the origin of petroleum 
and natural gas. These may be styled the inorganic and the organic 
theories. 

Inorganic theory .—The inorganic theory of the origin of petroleum 
and natural gas has been advanced and supported mainly by chem¬ 
ists. This theory is based primarily on the assumption that the waters 
and gases within the earth, reacting with other chemical compounds, 
generate the hydrocarbons, which are later collected in favorable reser¬ 


voirs. 


34 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


“Berthelot showed that carbon dioxide at high temperatures can react on 
free alkaline metals, which some have supposed the interior of the earth contains, 
and can yield acetylene, which would break down, forming higher hydrocarbons. 
He showed that acetylene heated to high temperature yields benzene.”i 

Other chemical theories along somewhat different lines have been 
advanced to account for the origin of petroleum from inorganic 
sources, but the basic principles are along the lines given above and 
need not here be discussed. 

Todajr the inorganic theory of the origin of petroleum is not re¬ 
garded as of very great importance by most petroleum geologists, in 
spite of the fact that hydrocarbons have been produced experimentally 
from inorganic sources. Some of the strongest arguments against the 
acceptance of the inorganic theory are: (1) The almost universal 
barrenness of igneous and crystalline rocks except in cases where they 
were very clearly not the original source of the oil but acted merely 
as reservoirs; (2) petroleum reservoirs are generally tightly sealed 
and would be difficult of access to petroleums coming from depth; 
and (3) practically all commercial production to date has come from 
sedimentary rocks. 

The inorganic theory of origin, however, appears to be both possi¬ 
ble and plausible, but as a practical explanation it is not supported by 
the great mass of field evidence. 

Organic theory .—The first expression of the theory that petroleum 
is derived by natural distillation from organic matter contained in 
sedimentary rocks was suggested by J. S. Newberry in his paper on 
the “Rock Oils of Ohio,” published in the Ohio Agricultural Report 
for 1859. The theory was again set forth and emphasized by New¬ 
berry in Vol. I, of the Ohio Geological Survey, in 1873, and by Edward 
Orton in Vol. VI of the Ohio Geological Survey, 1888. 

It is now commonly accepted that petroleum and natural gas are 
derived from organic matter. Both plant and animal matter have 


l Emmons, W. H., “Geologry of Petroleum,” p. 80, 1921. 



CONDITIONS ESSENTIAL TO COMMERCIAL OIL 


35 


been assigned as the sole source of petroleum and natural gas, but 
from the evidence in hand it appears that some oil is derived from 
plant remains, some from animal remains, and some from a combina¬ 
tion of the two. Plants are now probably regarded as the more impor¬ 
tant source. 

The organic remains that furnish the material for petroleum and 
natural gas are laid down in the sedimentary rocks at the time these 
rocks are deposited. Most commonly the rocks which contain oil¬ 
forming matter are laid down in the salt waters of the seas and oceans, 
though some fresh-water materials contain large amounts of matter 
which may be converted into petroleum by artificial means. 

All areas where there are considerable thickness of sedimentary 
rocks that have not been too highly metamorphosed offer possibilities 
for commercial quantities of petroleum, on a purely lithologic basis, 
but shales, limestones, marls, and dolomites are the principal petroli¬ 
ferous or oil-yielding rocks. Of these source rocks shales are by far 
the most important. This is to be accounted for because shales make 
up from 65 to 80 per cent of all sedimentary rocks, and because in 
the areas in which shales are deposited the conditions are most favor¬ 
able for the preservation of the oil-forming matter. The muds which 
form the shales are usually laid down in shallow, quiet water near 
shore lines. 

No definite limit can be placed as to the minimum thickness of 
source rocks that will furnish oil in commercial quantities, but it is 
safe to say that where petroliferous rocks are thin and poorly repre¬ 
sented the petroleum possibilities are not normally good. In many 
of the oil fields the petroliferous shales that have furnished the oil¬ 
forming matter attain thousands of feet in thickness. Moreover, 
the amount of oil-forming material in the rocks varies greatly, and 
where the material is very abundant great thicknesses of rock are not 
always necessary. 

Throughout a large part of geological time there has probably been 
abundant life to furnish large amounts of oil-forming matter, and its 


36 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


absence in many of the sedimentary rocks is due to a lack of its pre¬ 
servation rather than to its absence from the seas and oceans. 

CONVERSION 

Geologists are not all in accord as to the process of conversion of 
organic matter into petroleum or as to the time at which this conver¬ 
sion takes place. The three most prominent ideas advanced are: (1) 
That the petroleum results from the natural distillation of oil-forming 
matter in the rocks, that is, the material has not been broken up into 
different products at the time of deposition, but that the liberation of 
the waxes and fats and their conversion to petroleum all takes place 
long after deposition, and is attributable to pressure, and probably 
heat, caused by compacting and movement, with the time element 
always present. (2) That at the time of deposition of the organic 
matter bacterial action liberates the waxes and fats, which would 
normally tend to rise to the surface as tiny globules. But in even 
slightly turbid waters these globules would attach themselves to clay 
particles, which would sink, and the fatty matter would then become 
entombed in the rocks, to be later converted into liquid petroleum, by 
pressure and heat caused by compacting and movement. (3) That 
the bacterial action on the organic matter causes the direct conversion 
to liquid petroleum, which is thus contemporaneous with the strata 
in which it was originally contained. 

The present trend of thought among some petroleum geologists is 
that the conversion of animal matter to petroleum takes place soon 
after deposition, whereas the conversion of the plant matter probably 
takes place long after burial. 

It is not within the scope of this bulletin to enter into any exhaus¬ 
tive discussion of these general ideas and their many modifications. 
It will suffice to say that all three carry weight and probably not one 
alone embraces all the facts. 

Today it is difficult to say which idea is the most generally ac¬ 
cepted. If it is assumed that oil is preponderantly of vegetable origin 


CONDITIONS ESSENTIAL TO COMMERCIAL OIL 


37 


it is probable that the first theory, that of natural distillation, is the 
most important. In cases where the source of the oil is animal matter 
the third theory, that of direct conversion to liquid petroleum at 
time of deposition, would probably be the more applicable. The pres¬ 
ence of gas, which must, in large part, have been formed after the 
reservoirs were sealed, the presence of oil in structures sealed long 
after burial, and the relation between the degree of fixed carbon in the 
rocks and the grade of the oil, all constitute strong evidence that in 
many cases the second theory (that of the liberation of the waxes and 
fats at time of deposition and their subsequent conversion, due to 
pressure) must be of major importance, unless we assume that the oil 
was formed at the time of deposition and was later subjected to me¬ 
tamorphism, giving rise to gas and to a changed character of the oil. 
Such an assumption is in many cases unwarranted by the conditions 
which prevail. 

Whether or not movement is the agent of primary importance in 
the conversion of the oil-forming matter into petroleum, it is certain 
that the amount of deformation of the strata has a very direct bearing 
on the character of the oil, and the deformation of the strata may 
even be so great that the previously liquid oil becomes mainly fixed 
carbon and may never thereafter be recovered as liquid petroleum. 
The two following laws as given by David White furnish the best 
statements of these metamorphic effects d 

[l]*“In regions where the progressive devolatilization of the organic de¬ 
posits in any formation has passed a certain point, marked in most provinces by 
65 to 70 per cent of fixed carbon (pure coal basis) in the associated or overlying 
coals, commercial oil pools are not present in that formation nor in any formation 
normally underlying it, though commercial gas pools may occur”. 


Uohnson and Huntley, Oil and Gas Production, p. 23, 1915. 



38 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


[2] “The lowest rank oils of each type are found in the regions and forma¬ 
tions in which the carbonaceous deposits are least altered .... the highest rank 
oils being, on the whole, found in regions where carbonaceous deposits .... 
have been brought to correspondingly higher ranks”. 

Whether or not the development of structures, such as domes, 
anti-clines, etc., are of major importance as regards the formation of 
oil will perhaps long remain a matter of speculation. But certainly 
they do play a very important part in the accumulation and will be 
dealt with under that heading. 

ACCUMULATION 

GENEEAL PEINCIPLES 

When liquid oil is formed it is more or less scattered throughout 
the rocks. Therefore in order to get quantity production at any point 
it is necessary that the oil be concentrated. This necessitates migra¬ 
tion to a common centre, which takes place when several requirements 
are fulfilled. First, porous beds must be present, containing open 
spaces, such as those between the individual grains in a sandstone, in 
order to provide a passageway along which the oil may move during 
accumulation, and also to serve as a reservoir at the point of concen¬ 
tration. Secondly, the porous bed must be overlaid, and usually un¬ 
derlain, by relatively non-porous material, thereby confining the oil to 
restricted zones and preventing its being scattered. Thirdly, there 
must be some force acting on the oil along converging directions, 
thereby concentrating it at a common centre from over a relatively 
large area. It is furthermore necessary to have selective action to¬ 
ward oil, as compared with water, in order to separate the two. Oil 
is rarely found without associated water, which usually carries con¬ 
siderable salt in solution. 

POEOSTTY OF EOCKS 

Sandstones are normally the most porous type of sedimentary 
rock. Usually their pore space varies from about 10 per cent to about 
30 per cent of their volume. Limestones as a rule are much more 


CONDITIONS ESSENTIAL TO COMMERCIAL OIL 


39 


compact than sandstones, but sometimes have a relatively high po¬ 
rosity, generally due either to a loosely compacted nature, as in fossil 
coral reefs, or to extensive water channeling from solution, or to frac¬ 
ture fissures, or to the concentration accompanying certain changes 
in mineral nature. Shales and clays contain an abundance of minute 
openings, but these are so very small as to prevent free movement of 
any oil or water contained in them. 

Since, as previously stated, most oil originates in shales, and since 
these usually contain sand members with the necessary porosity, it 
naturally follows that in the majority of fields the oil is found con¬ 
centrated in these sand beds. In many instances, however, oil is 
concentrated in porous limestones, the limestone itself, or some other 
bed, perhaps of shale, being the source of the oil. Accumulations of 
oil in shale are not unknown, but they are not of commercial impor¬ 
tance. Effective porosity is probably always a requisite to quantity 
production. 

IMPERVIOUS CAPPING 

Shales, clays, and dense limestones are the most non-porous types 
of sedimentary rocks. All of these are common as impervious capping 
necessary to confine the oil during and after accumulation. Very 
fine-grained, compact sandstone, especially when saturated with 
water or oil, is relatively impervious unless subjected to high unbal¬ 
anced pressures. A bed may be the source of oil which migrates into 
an adjacent porous sand, and then function as a relatively impervious 
capping confining the oil to the porous bed. 

FORCES CAUSING THE MOVEMENT OF OIL 

The following forces are probably the most important in causing 
the movement of oil: (1) The buoyancy of oil when associated with 
water, with which it will not mix, causing the oil to rise on top of the 
water; (2) the force of moving water or gas tending to carry the oil 
along with it; (3) static gas and water pressure; (4) capillary attrac¬ 
tion; and (5) compacting of beds squeezing out the oil into other 
more porous beds. Sudden earth movements, such as those accompa- 


40 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


nying faulting, are considered important in starting the movement 
of oil. 

FAVORABLE STRUCTURES 

In order to bring about the concentration of oil it is necessary 
that the attitude of the strata be such as to bring one or more of the 
above mentioned forces into action, causing the oil to move. It is also 
necessary that the induced movement be toward a common centre. 
Any attitude of the beds which will fulfill these two requirements is 
termed favorable structure, with reference to the accumulation of oil 
and gas. In harmony with these principles it may be conservatively 
stated that nearly all the producing wells of the world are located on 
favorable structures, beneath which the oil is trapped in pools, occu¬ 
pying the inter-granular spaces of porous beds. 

Three types of favorable structures are common: (1) folded 
strata, (2) closed monoclinal strata, and (3) lens-shaped porous 
beds. 


impervious BEDS 



Fig-. 1.—Simple anticline with oil and gas (solid black) collected in porous 
bed at crest of fold. 


Folded strata .—Figure 1, illustrating a simple fold, shows the most 
common form of this type of structure. Force No. 4, (capillary 
attraction) assisted by force No. 5 (the compacting of beds) are in¬ 
strumental in moving the oil from its source in the shale to the porous 
sand, where the water, oil, and gas all occupy the open spaces between 
the individual grains. The oil being lighter than the water, and so 
constituted as not to mix with water, rises on top of the latter to 
the upper part of the fold, and from each side, as indicated. In a 
similar way the gas rises on top of the oil to the extreme crest of the 


















CONDITIONS ESSENTIAL TO COMMERCIAL OIL 


41 


fold, the water occupying a position well down the sides. Thus 
force No. 1, exerted through buoyancy, is brought into play, moving 
the oil to a common centre, the crest of the fold, from each side. Also 
the gas, rising in response to great bouyancy, carries the oil up with 
it, utilizing force No. 2. It is also generally true that strata are more 
intensely compacted, from folding, down the slopes than around the 
crest of a fold, thus squeezing the oil away from the lower parts 
toward the more porous crest, thereby engaging force No. 5. Force 
No. 3 (the static pressure of water and gas) tends to hold the water 
and gas entrapped in the fold as indicated. It is thus seen how the 
simple fold illustrated brings into play five forces which collect the 
oil from a relatively large area on the sides of the fold, carrying 
it up to a common point, and causing accumulation around the 
crest in the manner shown by figure 1. 

There are many modifications of the simple fold shown, all of 
which in general are effective in causing accumulation through the 
principles outlined. If the folding is so intense as to break the strata 
it is possible that a large part of the oil and gas may escape. 

Simple folds which are relatively long and narrow are called an¬ 
ticlines, while the term dome is applied to those having a width rela¬ 
tively great as compared to length. The anticline is probably the most 
common general form of structure favorable to oil and gas accumula¬ 
tion. 



Fig. 2.—Faulted monocline. Oil and gas (solid black) collected on down- 
thrown side of fault. 


Closed monoclinal strata .—Monoclinal strata or beds dipping in 
one direction only probably rank next in importance to folds in the ac¬ 
cumulation of oil and gas. The faulted monocline shown in figure 2, 












42 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


falls in this class. In this case the concentrative forces are in general 
similar to those operating in folded strata shown in Figure 1. Here 
the gas and oil would continue to move up dip, through the porous 
sand bed, and escape at the surface as an oil and gas seepage were 
there no interruption in the passageway. This is prevented, how¬ 
ever, by a break or fault in the beds, with relative movement in the 
direction shown by the arrows. The compact shale on the right of 
the fault line is thrown opposite the porous oil sand on the left, thereby 
sealing the latter by blocking the open passageway at this point. The 
movement along the fault plane tends to form pulverized material 
called gouge, which often seals the porous bed to the left of the fault, 
irrespective of what bed may be brought opposite it. Effective seal¬ 
ing may result from the deposition of residual hydrocarbons, like 
asphalt, or of mineral matter, such as calcite, from solution. The 
water, oil, and gas will be arranged as indicated, with accumulation 
a short distance down dip from the fault. In case the break is not 
sealed by impervious matter the oil and gas may escape, just as they 
would under similar conditions in folded strata. 

Figure 3 shows another common closed monoclinal structure favor¬ 
able to accumulation. Here the principles involved are similar to 
those of Figure 2, except that the up-dip movement of oil and gas, 
instead of being blocked by a sealed fault, is stopped by the porous 
sand changing to impervious shale or clay, thus terminating the open 
passageway. 



Fig. 3.—Porous lens' on monocline. Oil and gas shown in solid black. 


In figures 2 and 3 the up-dip movement of the oil is stopped by 
the termination of a free passageway. Another attitude of the beds, 










































































































CONDITIONS ESSENTIAL TO COMMERCIAL OIL 


43 


the terraced monocline shown in figure 4, often results in accumula¬ 
tion of oil at the point indicated. Here the oil moves up-dip, due to 
forces already discussed, dependent upon the steepness of dip. On 
meeting the flattened attitude of the bed the forces are correspond¬ 
ingly lessened, preventing further movement and resulting in concen¬ 
tration where the steepness of dip changes. If the water present has 
even slight movement, down-dip concentration from above the flat¬ 
tened area may take place. A structure of this nature is called a 
terrace. 



Fig. 4.—Terrace on monocline. Oil and gas (solid black) collected in porous 
bed on the terrace. 


Lens-shayed porous b eds.— Structures of this nature in horizontal 
strata are of much less importance than where the strata are folded 
or inclined. Figure 5 illustrates this class of structure. Here capil¬ 
lary attraction and the compacting of the shale carry the oil from its 
source in the shale into the sand lens. Gas and more or less water will 
usually be present and the oil and gas will be concentrated as shown. 
This type of structure usually does not gather the oil from over a very 
large area, but simply draws it from the beds immediately adjacent to 
the sand lens. Some sand lenses probably contain only oil and gas, 
due to the fact that the water, having a greater capillary attraction 
than oil, might leave the porous sand and enter the adjacent bed, 
where the small size of the pores gives gerater capillarity, thereby 
exerting a greater attraction toward the water than the oil. The fact 
that water has a greater capillarity than oil seems to be unquestion¬ 
ed, but the ability of the water in the sand to replace the oil already 
in the fine-grained shale is questioned. The fact that oil is generally 











44 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


more viscous than water would tend to retain the oil in the coarser 
grained sand, while the water, due to its relative fluidity, might enter 
the fine pores of the shale. In any event, when oil and water occupy 
beds of variable porosity the oil tends to become segregated in the 
more porous zones. Commercial accumulation of oil and gas in struc¬ 
tures of the above type are important in some fields. 



Fig:. 5.—Lens-sliaped porous bed in less porous strata. Oil and gas solid 
black. Beds horizontal. 

Other structures .—The sketches shown in Figures 1 to 5, inclu¬ 
sive, are idealized to more clearly represent the principles involved 
in accumulation. They illustrate some of the more common types of 
simple favorable structures without showing the common, more or 
less complex, modifications or specific structures represented by com¬ 
pound anticlines, plunging anticlines, salt domes, igneous domes, and 
monoclines sealed by dikes, etc. Compound anticlines are composed 
of more than one fold, which to a greater or less extent merge into a 
single structure, and sometimes with superposition of small folds or 
domes on a larger fold. Plunging anticlines are those having an axis 
inclined to the horizontal. Salt domes are those underlain by great 
cores of salt. These are common in the Gulf Coast area of Texas and 
Louisiana. Igneous domes are those formed by intrusions of molten 
igneous rock. In monoclines sealed by dikes igneous material has 
broken through the reservoir beds, sealing them up at the point of 
contact in a manner similar to that in sealed faulted monoclines. In 
the common structures just enumerated the principles of accumula¬ 
tion are the same as described under their respective types. 


















































































CONDITIONS ESSENTIAL TO COMMERCIAL OIL 


45 


Summary of structures .—From a consideration of the structures 
described it is evident that in general structures favorable to accumu¬ 
lation of oil and gas imply porous beds, impervious capping, folded or 
otherwise deformed strata, and water. However, there may be excep¬ 
tions, illustrated by the porous lenses in strata which are horizontal. 
Also, when abundant water is absent the oil, with no water to float on, 
may move down dip from gravity and become concentrated well down 
the sides of structures. Ideal conditions of this type would give ac¬ 
cumulation at the lowest point of the strata, such as the trough or 
syncline between two anticlines. Productive structures of this nature 
are found in numerous fields, especially in the Appalachian area, but 
they are the exception rather than the rule, for water is one of the 
most important factors in accumulation. 



The importance of favorable structure with reference to commer¬ 
cial production can scarcely be over-estimated. It is undoubtedly 
next in importance to the presence of oil or oil-forming matter itself. 
The pressure, movement of beds, etc., incident to folding or any form 
of deformation is also known to be a factor in the changing of oil¬ 
forming matter into liquid oil. Structures, therefore, are not only 
active in the accumulation of oil and gas but are produced by forces 
which are regarded as conversion factors also. The relative impor¬ 
tance which structure bears to each of these processes cannot be defi¬ 
nitely stated. 

RETENTION 

The fourth and last major requirement to be fulfilled in order to 
produce commercial quantities of petroleum is retention. The oil¬ 
forming material, the waxes and fats, and the liquid petroleum must 












4t> GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 

be prevented from escaping. This is accomplished by impervious re- 
taining material. Without this retention the petroleum formed dur¬ 
ing past geologic time would never have been preserved until the 
present day. 

The presence of impervious retaining material, whatever its char¬ 
acter, is necessary not only after the oil has been collected in favor¬ 
able reservoirs, but also at the time of the deposition of the oil-forming 
matter and during the time intervening between deposition and col¬ 
lection as liquid oil in reservoirs. 



Whether we assume that the whole of the conversion from organic 
matter into petroleum takes place after burial, or that it takes place 
either wholly or in part at the time of deposition, it is essential that 
from the very time the material is deposited it must have over it some 
covering to exclude the air, thus preventing oxidation and evapora¬ 
tion. The principle of burial and exclusion of oxygen perhaps offers 
one of the best reasons why the muds and clays, when changed into 
shales, are the great source rocks of oil. Muds and clays are normally 
laid dowm in quiet waters, practically barren of free oxygen. More¬ 
over, the clay particles act as an impervious seal against the escape of 
the waxes and fats, due to the attraction which they exert on the tiny 
particles, as previously mentioned. 

An impervious covering for a favorable reservoir really has a 
double function. In the first place, without this impervious covering 
over porous strata there could hardly be a true reservoir, for the por¬ 
ous strata would not normally offer a suitable place of lodgment for 













CONDITIONS ESSENTIAL TO COMMERCIAL OIL 


47 


the oil. Then, after the oil has been collected in reservoirs it is very 
commonly subjected to both gas and hydrostatic pressures. In order 
that it may not be forced out of the porous rocks it is necessary that 
the latter should remain overlaid, and usually underlaid, by relative¬ 
ly impervious rocks. 



The commonest of these impervious cap rocks are shales and 
clays, though often very dense limestones and dolomites serve. In 
the case of the shales and clays, their actual porosity may be high, 
but the pore spaces are so small that the oil may not enter. Shales 
and clays are especially impervious to oil when they are saturated 
with water, the oil lacking the power to force the water out of the 
fine pores. In the case of dense limestones and dolomites acting as 
the retaining strata, imperviousness is due mainly to the actually 
small amount of their pore space. 

Modifications of the above general statements are to be found in 
such cases as where evaporation of some of the oil in a porous bed has 
so clogged the pores as to form a dam to further escape of the oil. 
This normally effects a porous bed at its outcrop at the surface and 
practically implies some impervious covering over the greater part 
of the stratum. 

Faults may cut across strata or igneous dikes may be intruded 
through them, forming very effectual dams to migration through po¬ 
rous strata, thereby forming a favorable collecting ground. Again, 
this normally implies, in each case, a relatively impervious covering 
above the oil-bearing stratum in order to make the damming effec¬ 
tive. 













48 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


There are a number of factors which operate against the reten¬ 
tion of oil in pools. The first, the most important, of these, is the 
breaking of the strata. Other factors of importance are deep val¬ 
ley cutting, change in water level, and igneous activity. 

All of the above conditions tending to offset retention, with the 
last named excepted in some cases, are caused primarily by earth 
movements subsequent to the collection of the oil in the reservoirs. 
As has already been pointed out, movements of the earth's crust 
both fold and fault the rocks. These folds and faults may form the 
favorable reservoirs, but very often the folding is so intense that the 
strata are both fractured and faulted, and these openings may very 
readily serve as means of escape for at least part of any oil that may 
have been present. 



Fig - . 9.—Showing- increase in folding beneath an unconformity. Oil and gas 
in solid black. 


Earth movements may, and very commonly do, result in uplift of 
the land areas. This may cause renewed erosion, cutting away the 
covering of the reservoir rocks. Very often, however, the petro¬ 
leum reservoirs are buried sufficiently deep to be protected against 
erosion for almost infinite periods of time. 

Directly related to elevation and erosion is change of water 
level. Very commonly the lower surface of the oil rests on water, 
and if this water is, for any reason, withdrawn, the oil wall tend to 
follow it and go down the limbs of the structures by gravitational 
action. (In the case of oil in dry rocks in synclines, the intrusion 
of water may force the oil up the limbs of the structures.) Deep 
erosion tends to furnish openings permitting the entombed ground 
water to escape, thereby lowering its level within the strata. Solu- 



















LOCATION OF OIL AND GAS WELLS 


49 


tion action may likewise release the underground waters with con¬ 
sequent change of level. 

The intrusion of igneous rocks into the sediments may either act 
alone or accompany earth movements. The accompanying heat 
may entirely disperse any existing oil in the rocks invaded, 
the magnitude of the intrusive mass and its proximity to the 
reservoir being the governing factors, assuming of course that the 
mass is hot. 



Fig. 10.—Exposure and removal of former reservoir rocks by erosion. Oil 
and gas in solid black. 


It should thus be generally clear that there are certain condi¬ 
tions, such as impervious coverings, that must be looked for in 
connection with oil collection. It should also be borne in mind that 
faults, folds, and igneous intrusions may be either desirable or unde¬ 
sirable features, and always their degree and the particular condi¬ 
tions should be noted, and each area considered on its oivn merits. 

LOCATION OF OIL AND GAS TEST WELLS 
There have been stated, in the foregoing section, the major con¬ 
ditions which must be fulfilled before commercial production of pe¬ 
troleum or natural gas may be expected. These conditions are by 
no means always easily recognized and can often only be determin¬ 
ed by careful prospecting of a region. Such prospecting is normal¬ 
ly stimulated by, and based on, two sets of data which are here 
termed non-structural and structural. They include both surface 
and subsurface factors. 

Non-structural factors .— The first of the non-structural factors 
bearing on the occurrence of petroleum to be considered is the rock 
column and sequence of the region under consideration. In regions 












50 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


of igneous rocks or highly metamorphosed rocks of any type pros¬ 
pecting for petroleum is little warranted. Any area of sedimen¬ 
tary rocks not too highly metamorphosed offers a possibility for 
petroleum. Where the rocks are of a petroliferous character, such 
as some shales, and there are also present reservoir types of rocks, 
like porous sandstones, and where such rocks are of considerable 
thickness, prospecting is better warranted. Often the rock sequence 
and character can only be learned from more or less distant outcrops 
and from well cuttings. 

Another set of non-structural data that commonly stiumlates in¬ 
terest and prospecting is what may be called surface indications of 
petroleum. These includes the presence of deposits of asphaltum, 
paraffin, gilsonite, etc., oil seeps; gas seeps; mud volcanoes; burn¬ 
ed shale; and salt water. 

In many areas deposits of heavy hydrocarbons are to be found. 
They may occur as deposits of asphalt or gilsonite etc., or they may 
be in the form of bituminous rocks (rocks impregnated with the 
hydrocarbons.) Such deposits are the result of the evaporation of 
the more volatile constituents of petroleum. They usually occur 
along the outcrops of the oil-bearing formations or around open¬ 
ings, such as springs, fractures, faults, etc. 

Seeps of petroleum itself are common in many areas, and often 
indicate quantity supply at depth, but do not necessarily point to 
commercial accumulation below the point of issue, as the oil may 
have come from a long distance away. Sometimes seeps and depos¬ 
its of the heavier hydrocarbons are far removed from productive re¬ 
gions and are thereby misleading for the immediate area, but offer 
hopes of production from the same formations, where those may be 
buried and where structural conditions are favorable. 

Gas seeps are common in many regions. Often the gas is of 
an inflammable character, but it is not necessarily of a petroleum 
origin, and may be any one of several naturally occurring non-petro¬ 
leum gases. The source of the gas can be determined by careful 


PETROLEUM POSSIBILITlES OF GEORGIA 


PLATE Ill 



JS** v i -'< r 


A. GLENDON LIMESTONE ON OCMULGEE RIVER, 2 MILES SOUTH OF HAWKTNS- 

VILLE, PULASKI COUNTY. 



B. INDURATED SAND AND CLAY, ALUM B.LUFF FORMATION, MILL CREEK, JEFF 

DAVIS COUNTY. 











LOCATION OF OIL AND OAS WELLS 


51 


chemical analysis only when the gas is of the wet type, containing 
condensable hydrocarbons. Such gases are commonly considered 
to be of petroleum origin. Sometimes gas issuing from openings 
will carry with it particles of mud and sand, thereby building up a 
cone. These are commonly called mud volcanoes. They are al¬ 
most always in loose, poorly consolidated material. Sometimes 
the material is of a plastic character and so seals up the opening. 
The gas then being collected under some pressure may periodically 
burst through the covering with more or less violence, thereby re¬ 
sembling a volcano. 

Burned shale, or “clinker” as it is often called, may in some 
cases be indicative of at least past supplies of petroleum. Where the 
bituminous material has been burned, probably from spontaneous 
combustion, it may burn the overlying shales, forming clinker. How¬ 
ever, such effects are very common in regions where there is lignite 
or brown coal, due to the burning of the lignite, and should not be 
given undue importance as an oil indicator. 

Salt water springs and “salt licks,” as well as springs of sul¬ 
phur water, are sometimes indications of nearby oil bodies. Oil is 
very commonly associated with salt water and also with sulphur. 
However, it should be borne in mind that many non-petroliferous 
formations contain salt and sulphur, and solutions coming from these 
need not in any way be evidence of oil. 

Structural indications .—In any area where the rocks are of a pos¬ 
sible oil-producing character, whether other surface indications 
mentioned above are present or not, the presence or absence of 
favorable structural features should be looked for, and their loca¬ 
tion, extent, and character determined. 

Sometimes it is very easy to work out the location and magnitude 
of structures where good rock exposures are numerous and the 
structures simple. Very often, however, outcrops are few and poor, 
structures are complicated and of very low dips, making the task of 
delimiting them a difficult one. In such cases a very careful sur- 


52 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


vey is necessary. Often structures must be projected from distant 
outcrops or even determined in large measure by data from drilled 
wells. 

In the working out of a geologic structure, whether by hand 
level, alidade, transit, or by well logs, it is essential that some one 
definite bed or horizon, which can be fairly readily recognized, be 
taken as a key bed. Then all measurements of elevations are in 
terms of this key bed and its departures from the horizontal may in 
general be interpreted as outlining any structure. Often the only 
data available may be a negative character; that is, there may be an 
absence of outcrops, well records, or both, and then the lack of ex¬ 
posures at the surface of formations reasonably expected at relative¬ 
ly shallow depths constitutes fairly strong evidence against any 
uplift. This may be offset by any previous structures having been 
planed off and then buried beneath horizontal beds, in which case 
the structure would remain concealed, unless there was movement 
later than the deposition of the surface material. 

Again, it must be borne in mind that the few conditions outlined 
above by no means wholly cover the selection of the location of a 
test well, but represent only some of the major considerations and 
are here given to the extent that they may throw light on some of 
the succeeding discussions. 

While surface indications, such as asphalt and gilsonite deposits, 
oil seeps, bituminous rocks, etc., are often present, they are by no 
means universally present in oil fields. In fact, they are the excep¬ 
tion rather than the rule. Furthermore, their chief significance 
probably lies in the fact, that they stimulate interest for detailed ex¬ 
amination. Such further investigation may lead to the discovery 
of favorable structures. It then becomes largely a question as to 
whether or not the major conditions of source, conversion, accumu¬ 
lation, and retention have been fulfilled. Whether or not they have 
been met must, in the last analysis, be determined by the drill, and 
even this may fail, for the productive horizons may be so deeply 


POPULAR FALLACIES 


53 


buried as to be practically impossible to reach by the present-day 
drilling methods. 

POPULAR FALLACIES RELATIVE TO PETROLEUM AND ■ 

NATURAL GAS 

Many popular fallacies concerning the method of locating oil 
and gas fields are prevalent. To enumerate all of these would be 
difficult, in as much as many of them are purely local, but some 
of these erroneous ideas of wider extent are here explained with 
the hope of discrediting them. 

Divining rods, “Doodle bugs ,” “Wiggle sticks,” etc. —One of the 
common methods used by fake promoters to determine the alleged 
presence of oil and gas is by the use of divining rods, “Doodle 
bugs,” “wiggle sticks,” and other such contrivances. These are 
of many and varied types but all are based on the assumption that oil 
and gas are capable of exerting some force on these “detectors” 
which will cause them to move, bend, rotate, oxidize, change color, 
or do various other things. Careful study of the principles upon 
which these contrivances are based and the results obtained by 
their use, both equally discredit their value as a means of locating 
oil or gas pools. 

General surface appearance. —Another common fallacy is based on 
the general appearance of a region. Some person, familiar with 
some oil region, may go into another region of similar appearance 
and thereby conclude that oil must be present. As a matter of 
fact surface appearance has absolutely no direct bearing on the 
presence or absence of oil where such surface appearance is purely 
a matter of topography, soil color, vegetation etc. 

Topography. —A very common mistake made by many persons is 
the confusing of ordinary hills and ridges with structure. Very 
often, for example, isolated, round-topped hills are regarded as 
domes when they are strictly an erosional feature. Hills may, 
and often do, coincide with structure, but far oftener do not. 


54 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


Migration of oil .—A common practice among so-called “oil ex¬ 
perts” is to plot, on base maps, structural lines connecting widely- 
separated oil fields, or to project such lines long distances from a 
producing field to show structure in an unstudied region regard¬ 
less of actually existing conditions. After establishing their de¬ 
sired structures they picture rivers of oil flowing along under¬ 
ground, thereby assuming practically" universal extent of forma¬ 
tions and incredible migration powers of oil. 

As a matter of fact geologic formations are by no means of 
universal extent. Often times formations of the same age are of 
wide extent, but that does not mean that they are everywhere of 
the same character and could permit migration of oil throughout 
their extent, all other conditions being favorable. Moreover, no 
such wonderful powers of migration have ever been proven for oil. 

More often, however, such “experts” take no account of for¬ 
mations, but attribute to oil the power of migrating any distance, 
through any kind of rock, or over any type of structure. An ex¬ 
ample of this is the often-stated reason why oil must exist in 
southern Georgia. This is based on the theory that the oil has 
migrated from the Kentucky" fields. In this case they" do not take 
into account the distance, the presence of wide areas of igneous 
and highly metamorphosed sedimentary rocks, and the major 
structural lines of the area between Kentucky and southern Geor¬ 
gia, but credit oil with powers great enough to overcome all ob¬ 
stacles. 

Vegetation .—Various attempts have been made to show a relation¬ 
ship between the presence of oil and gas and certain types of veg¬ 
etation. Present-day vegetation is primarily the result of exist¬ 
ing climate and soil, and it is difficult to see how it could have 
any connection with deeply buried oil formed in past geologic time. 
It is conceivable that the presence of certain gases found in some 
oil fields might have an effect on the vegetation, but none of the 


POPULAR FALLACIES 


55 


relationships suggested have very wide acceptance among petro¬ 
leum geologists. 

An indirect relationship is often shown in this way: In many 
areas certain types of vegetation are commonly found where cer- 
tion formations are at the surface or nearly so. In this way the 
vegetation may show the presence of certain formations near the 
surface whose presence there may indicate structure. Thus in¬ 
directly vegetation may indicate structure, but it is only related to 
oil in its bearing on said structural conditions. 

Elevations .—The idea is sometimes put forth that no oil is to be 
expected from beds whose elevation is above sea-level. The fallacy 
of this can readily be proved by an examination of the data from 
any oil fields. 

“Gas blowouts .”—Among many self-styled “oil experts” the so- 
called “gas blowout” is considered excellent evidence of the pres¬ 
ence of oil or gas. Mud volcanoes might will be termed “gas 
blowouts,” but what are generally called “blowouts” are not of 
the mud volcano type but represent effects generally produced by 
erosion or by chemical action. 

One type of the so-called “blowout” is the isolated rock out¬ 
crop in regions generally covered by loose mantle rock or soil. The 
outcrop is said to have been blown out and broken by the gas pres¬ 
sures from the underlying oil and gas pools. As a matter of fact 
such “blowouts” are not known to exist unless the rocks have been 
forced up by igneous action, in which case the action is certainly 
not the result of natural gas pressure. These isolated outcrops 
are the normal result of erosion, the harder portions of the rock be¬ 
ing more resistant, thereby being left exposed after the softer por¬ 
tions have been eroded away. 

Another type of “blowout” is said to be proven by the presence 
of rocks having a burned or blackened appearance. Very often 
these supposedly burned rocks are high in iron and manganese ox¬ 
ides, the iron and manganese salts having been deposited from 


56 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


solution, with accompanying oxidation. In very arid regions the 
burned appearance may be due to desert varnish on the rocks. That 
is, the intense heat of the sun has caused the salts within the rocks 
to be brought to the surface, where they produce the dark staining. 

A third commonly called ‘‘gas blowout” is the lime sink. This 
is the direct result of the caving in of the surface, caused by the 
collapse of underground caverns formed by the removal of limy 
material in solution. 

Other types of the so-called “gas blowouts” might be enumer¬ 
ated, but it is probably sufficient to say that the term “gas blow¬ 
out” as commonly used is entirely erroneous and has no significance 
as related to oil or gas production. 

HISTORY OF OIL PROSPECTING IN GEORGIA 

In 1919 the Georgia Geological Survey, in a report entitled “A 
Preliminary Report on the Oil Prospect near Scotland, Telfair Coun¬ 
ty, Ga.,” outlined a history of oil prospecting in Georgia to that 
date. The following record is taken largely from the above re¬ 
port, slightly modified and supplemented, bringing it up to the 
present date. 

The pioneer deep test of the Coastal Plain of Georgia was made 
by the late Capt. A. F. Lucas, whose fame in connection with early 
production near Beaumont, Texas, is well known. Capt. Lucas in 1905 
drilled at a point about three and a half miles southwest of Louis¬ 
ville, in Jefferson County. The location was made mainly with 
reference to apparent oil seeps. Drilling difficulties were encoun¬ 
tered at about 500 feet, and the well was shut down until two years 
later, when it was taken over by the Georgia Petroleum Oil Co., who 
carried it down to the crystalline rocks, at 1143 feet, without com¬ 
mercial production. 

Soon after Lucas began the Louisville test well another test 
was started near Doctortown, in Wayne County, and carried to 
1901 feet. Some gas was reported below 500 feet but no quantity 
of either oil or gas was encountered. 


OIL PROSPECTING IN GEORGIA 


57 


In 1908 a test was made near Hazelliurst, by the Hinson Oil, 
Gas and Development Co. This well is reported to have been 
sunk to about 985 feet and shot with dynamite, which bridged the 
hole and badly damaged the casing. A barrel or more of crude 
oil is said to have been bailed out after the shot, but it seems that 
the well was never cleaned out to continue the test. 

The deepest hole ever drilled in the Coastal Plain of Georgia 
is at Fredel, ten miles south of Way cross, drilled in 1915 by the 
Waycross Oil and Gas Co. in an unsuccessful attempt to get pro¬ 
duction. Showings of oil and gas were reported at about 1000 feet. 

Not long after the Fredel project was started a great deal of 
leasing was done in the Chattahoochee and Witlilacoochee River 
areas. This activity was caused by reference in a State report on 
the geology of the Coastal Plain to hypothetical anticlines indicated 
by stream data. Only one shallow test is known to have been 
made, however, and this apparently failed to encourage further 
drilling. 

In 1919 a test well was drilled to about 830 feet, at a point 
about 9 miles northwest of Fitzgerald, without encountering pro¬ 
duction. 

In 1920 the Middle Georgia Oil & Gas Co., drilled about 12 miles 
northwest of Sandersville, reaching the basement crystalline rocks 
at a little less than 400 feet. The same company later began a 
test in Jeff Davis county about 15 miles west of Hazelliurst. This 
operation is temporarily shut down at 1975 feet. 

At about the same time the Middle Georgia Oil & Gas Co. was 
making the Sandersville test a well was being drilled at Cherokee 
Hill about 6 miles northwest of Savannah. A depth of about 2130 
feet was reached and showings of oil and gas reported but no 
production was obtained. 

In the summer of 1921 the Three Creeks Oil Company drilled at 
Allens Station, about 9 miles south of Augusta, reaching the base¬ 
ment crystalline rocks at about 400 feet. The company then moved 


58 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OE GEORGIA 


their rig to a point in Burke County about two and a half miles east 
of Green’s Cut, where they are temporarily shut down at about 1000 
feet 1 . This is the only known test well in the State that is drilling at 
the present time, except the Dixie Oil Company’s well near McRae 
in Wheeler county. 

In addition to the enumerated test wells in the Coastal Plain 
several attempts to secure oil production have been made in North 
Georgia. In 1902 the Rome Petroleum and Iron Co. drilled two 
wells, 1200 feet and 1850 feet deep, respectively, in the Paleozoic 
area near Rome. Several years later an 1100 foot test was made in 
the crystalline rocks near Madison. 

All drilling in Georgia has so far failed to result in commer¬ 
cial production. 

PHYSIOGRAPHIC FEATURES OF GEORGIA 2 

PHYSIOGRAPHIC DIVISIONS 

The State of Georgia is divided into five well-marked physio¬ 
graphic divisions, namely, the Coastal Plain, the Piedmont Pla¬ 
teau, the Appalachian Mountains, the Appalachian Valley, and the 
Cumberland Plateau. Each of these divisions is comparatively 
well defined; nevertheless, in some instances, the line of separa¬ 
tion can not always be sharply drawn. Often, in places, one 
division blends with another, so that it is frequently impossible 
to give definite boundaries. In such cases the boundaries can only 
be spoken of as occurring within certain limits. 

The physiographic divisions of the State, above enumerated, are 
not peculiar to Georgia alone. They form a part of the main 
topographic provinces of the Eastern division of the United States, 
which have been described, under the names here given, by Hayes 3 
and others. As a whole these divisions may be spoken of as 
certain well-marked land forms, composing belts or zones of varia- 

1 Later, the test well here referred to was abandoned and another was put 
down in the same vicinity, which encountered crystalline rock at about 1002 
feet. 

2 Reprinted, with exception of section on Coastal Plain, from description by 
S. W. McCallie, in Georgia Geol. Surv. Bull. 15, pp. 23-27, 1908 

3 U. S. Geol. Survey, Nineteenth Ann. Rept., 1897-98, pp 9-58 



PHYSIOGRAPHIC FEATURES OF GEORGIA 


59 


ble width extending from New York to Alabama. Each division 
has its own topographic peculiarities and constitutes a distinct 
physiographic type. They all have a southwesterly trend, and 
traverse the various States between the limits mentioned. The 
surface configuration of Georgia, as represented by the physio¬ 
graphic divisions above enumerated, is here described in detail. 

COASTAL PLAINi 

General features .—The Coastal Plain of Georgia embraces all that 
portion of the State that lies south of the Piedmont Plateau re¬ 
gion. It has an areal extent of approximately 36,000 square miles. 
The line of contact between the Piedmont Plateau and the Coastal 
Plain is an irregular line, known as the “Fall line.” It extends 
from Columbus on the west through Macon and Milledgeville, to 
Augusta on the east. The Fall line derived its name from the 
small falls or rapids which mark the places where the streams leave 
the more steeply sloping crystalline rocks of the Piedmont region 
and pass onto the softer rocks of the Coastal Plain. 

Physiographically the region is a low plain having a gentle 
southward slope. In comparison with the other physiographic 
divisions of the state this plain has been subjected to erosion for 
only a short time, and its topography over the greater part of the 
area may be described as youthful. On the whole the Coastal Plain 
is level, although it comprises some hilly and broken areas in the 
northern part near the Fall line, where in places it is dissected and 
appears somewhat more mature. None of the hills, however, rise 
above a general level, and their tops present an even skyline. The 
rocks are mainly unconsolidated sands, clays, and marls of simple 
structure, and the region consequently lacks the pronounced topog¬ 
raphy due to resistant varieties of rock and the folding of beds that 
characterize the Appalachian Valley and the Appalachian Moun¬ 
tains. The plain reaches a maximum elevation above sea level of 
650 to 700 feet between Macon and Columbus, and of 500 to 600 

’Tn lare-e part reprinted from Stephenson. L. W., and Veatch, .T. O., “Underground 
Waters of Georgia,” U. S. Geol. Survey Wat. Sup. Paper, pp. 28-38, 1915. 


60 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


feet between Macon and Augusta, and thence slopes 3 to 4 feet 
per mile to sea level. About half of the plain is less than 300 feet, 
and a large area near the Atlantic coast, about one-seventh of the 
total, is less than 100 feet above sea level. Here the streams have 















































PHYSIOGRAPHIC FEATURES OF GEORGIA 


61 


not cut as deep courses as in the older divisions, tributary streams 
are fewer, and large, flat, undrained or poorly drained areas abound, 
particularly in the southeastern part. 

Although the Coastal Plain may be described, in comparison 
with the Appalachian Valley, Appalachian Mountains, and Pied¬ 
mont Plateau, as a plain, it is not entirely featureless, and within 
itself it presents topographic contrasts. It may be divided into 
six physiographic subdivisions—the Fall-line hills, Dougherty plain, 
Altamaha upland, Southern lime-sink region, Okefenookee plain, and 
Satilla coastal lowland. 

Fall-line hills .—The Fall-line hills, as is indicated by their name, 
occupy the upper portion of the Coastal Plain, their northern boun¬ 
dary being approximately the Fall-line, south of which the hills 
form a belt 40 to 50 miles wide across the State. This belt, how¬ 
ever, is not sharply defined, for on the north it merges into the 
Piedmont Plateau and on the south into the level and less broken 
land of the Dougherty plain and the Altamaha upland. In the Fall¬ 
line hills, more than in any other subdivision of the Coastal Plain, 
the topographic features are due to surface erosion. Stream ero¬ 
sion is more active because of the greater altitude, aud it has been 
going on for a longer period of time. The region is characterized by 
flat-topped hills or ridges and deep gullies or “washes.” The larger 
streams have cut courses 200 to 350 feet below the level of the up¬ 
land plain, and the northern portion of the belt is as broken as the 
adjacent Piedmont Plateau. The region is underlain mainly by 
sands and clays of Cretaceous and Eocene age, and their softness 
has favored rapid erosion. 

In elevation above sea level the higher land west of Ocmulgee 
River varies from 350 to 700 feet; that east of the Ocmulgee from 
300 to 600 feet. The elevations of low water at Columbus, Macon, 
Milledgeville, and Augusta are, respectively, 200, 279, 241 and 109 
feet. 


62 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


Two types of hills are commonly recognized, the sand hills and 
the red hills. The sand hills are best developed in the northern por¬ 
tion of the belt. They are essentially flat ridges, with from 3 to 
30 feet of covering of loose, gray to brownish quartz sand, which is 
probably residual from the underlying material. The red hills are 
the more common in the southern part of the Fall-line belt. The 
soil of the hills is a bright red sand or red sandy loam, and is resid¬ 
ual from the underlying formations. 

Dougherty plain .—The Dougherty plain occupies a large area in 
the western part of the Coastal Plain, extending from the Chatta¬ 
hoochee river to a few miles east of Flint river, where it is rather 
sharply separated from the Altamaha upland by the escarpment 
formed by the north-western limit of the Alum Bluff formation. It 
includes all or the greater part of the counties of Decatur, Seminole, 
Miller, Mitchell, Early, Baker, Calhoun, Dougherty, Randolph, Ter¬ 
rell, Lee and Sumter. A small strip extends eastward from the 
Flint to the Oconee, including parts of Dooly, Houston, Pulaski and 
Laurens counties. The plain is characterized by very level tracts, 
containing few elevations that can properly be termed hills. Small 
streams and branches are comparatively few, and surface erosion is 
consequently slight, the drainage being in large measure subterra¬ 
nean. The surface is further characterized by numerous lime sinks, 
which vary in size from small depressions, with diameters of from 
100 to 200 feet, to hollows occupying several hundred acres and to 
chains of sinks several miles in length. The sinks usually contain 
shallow ponds or lakes. 

The main topographic features of the Dougherty plain have re¬ 
sulted from the rapid removal in solution of the calcareous materials 
of the surface or near-surface formations. The elevation above sea 
level of the Dougherty plain varies from approximately 125 feet in 
Decatur County to 450 feet in the southern part of Houston County, 
much the greater portion being less than 300 feet. 


PHYSIOGRAPHIC FEATURES OF GEORGIA 


63 


Altamaha upland .—The Altamaha upland constitutes the largest 
physiographic subdivision of the Coastal Plain. Its northern bound¬ 
ary runs irregularly between Waynesboro, Tennille, Dublin, Cochran, 
and Vienna, and its western edge lies parallel to and a few miles 
east of Flint River as far south as Decatur County. On the south¬ 
east, in Effingham, Liberty, Wayne, Pierce, Ware, and Clinch coun¬ 
ties, it merges into the sandy pine flats of the Okefenokee plain. The 
division embraces most of the region popularly known as the “wire- 
grass country,” and is underlain by the Alum Bluff formation, and 
by the weathered residual products of that formation or by younger 
material of similar lithology. 

The region can be called an upland only in comparison with the 
low coastal plain on the southeast and the adjacent Dougherty plain 
on the west; on the whole it is lower than the Fall-line hills to the 
north. It varies in elevation above sea level from about 470 feet 
in the north and west to about 125 feet in the southeast, there being 
a gradual slope to the southeast. 

Characteristic of the topography are low rolling hills with smooth 
or softened outlines, which, except along the large rivers, do not 
rise more than 40 or 50 feet above the valleys. None of the features 
suggest ruggedness, yet at the same time the region is not monoto¬ 
nously level or flat. 

Streams are much more numerous than on the Dougherty plain 
and the coastal flats. Altamaha, Ocmulgee, and Oconee rivers 
have cut valleys 100 to 150 feet deep, bordered in a few places by 
precipitous bluffs, where the surface rocks are locally more resistant, 
but except for these the valleys are shallow. Those of the small 
streams have low breastlike slopes and may be described as dish 
shaped. The creeks flow through broad swampy bottoms, are gen¬ 
erally sluggish, and are characterized by clear water, free from 
sediment, in contrast to the muddy waters of the Ocmulgee, Oconee 
and Altamaha. 


64 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


In the southeastern part of the Altamaha upland the land is 
more level and finally merges into the moist pine flats of the Okefe- 
nokee plain. Throughout this part small cypress ponds are numer¬ 
ous, the valleys of the small streams are more swampy, and the 
streams themselves have banks not more than a foot or two high. 
Along the northern and western edges of the Altamaha upland in 
Screven, Wilcox, Crisp, Turner, Worth, and Decatur counties, sinks, 
due to the underground solution of limestone, are present. 

The soil is generally sandy and the country in places is thickly 
mantled with loose gray sand. In many places, though more notably 
in the northern half, are considerable exposures of the indurated 
clays and sands of the Alum Bluff formation. Many of the streams 
and creeks are bordered by sand hills made up of loose, gray, yellow, 
or light-brown, quartz sand. These sand belts normally parallel the 
streams and rarely exceed two miles in width. The origin of these 
sand hills is not yet well understood. 

In comparison with the Dougherty plain, the Altamaha upland 
has a rolling topography, more numerous streams, and fewer lime 
sinks. It is not so entirely featureless as the swampy tracts along 
the coast and is better drained. In contrast to the Pall-line hills it 
lacks ruggedness, and its valleys are shallower. 

Southern lime-sink region .—The Southern lime-sink region occu¬ 
pies a small area in the southern part of the state, embracing the 
southeastern part of Decatur County, the southern halves of Grady, 
Thomas, Brooks, and Lowndes counties, and adjacent areas in Flor¬ 
ida. The topography is hilly and is characterized by lime sinks, 
lakes, and ponds. 

The surface varies from 150 to 275 feet above sea level, and the 
hills rise 50 to 75 feet and in a few places 100 feet above the valleys. 
The topography is more rugged than that of the adjacent Altamaha 
upland and the Dougherty plain, this difference, and other character¬ 
istics of the subdivision being due mainly to the differences in thp 
underlying geologic formations. The lime sinks are due to the under- 


PETROLEUM POSSIBILITIES OF GEORGIA 


PLATE IV 



A. INDURATED SAND AND CLAY, ALUM BLUFF FORMATION, MILL CREEK, JEFF 

DAVIS COUNTY. 












PHYSIOGRAPHIC FEATURES OF GEORGIA 


65 


ground solution of upper Oligocene limestone, which, except in small 
areas, is not the surface material, but which is overlain by 50 to 100 
feet of sand and clay, whose soft and easily eroded character prob¬ 
ably accounts for its greater ruggedness as compared with the west¬ 
ern lime-sink region (Dougherty plain). The lakes and ponds oc¬ 
cupy depressions caused by the collapse of underground solution 
caverns in limestones. Some of the lakes cover areas of several hun¬ 
dred acres and are free from timber growth, but the smaller and 
shallower ponds support a thick growth of cypress. The water in 
these sinks varies with the seasons, but is known suddenly to disap¬ 
pear or to rise, owing probably to the opening or closing of under¬ 
ground passages. 

The drainage, as in the Dougherty plain, is to some extent sub¬ 
terranean, and small streams are not numerous. The rivers of the 
region, the Ocklocknee, the Withlacoochee, and other smaller 
streams, flow canal-like through broad sand-covered terrace plains. 
The waters of the streams are not muddy but are dark on account 
of dissolved and suspended organic matter; that of the lake is clear. 

The soil is in many places red sandy clay. Superficial gray sand, 
such as characterizes the Altamaha upland, is not so widely dis¬ 
tributed. The tree growth differs somewhat from that of the wire- 
grass region to the north, some oak and hickory being associated 
with the long-leaf pine. 

OkefenoJcee plain .—The Okefenokee plain forms a north-south 
belt 20 to 40 miles wide in the southeastern part of the Coastal 
Plain, including parts of Effingham, Bryan, Liberty, Wayne, Pierce, 
Camden, Ware, Charlton, Clinch, and Echols counties. On the west 
it is bounded approximately by a line extending from the north¬ 
east corner of Effingham county southwestward nearly to Grove- 
land, Bryan County, thence to a point a few miles south of Glen- 
ville, thence nearly to Jesup and Waycross, and thence along the 
western boundary of the Okefenokee Swamp. The escarpment sepa¬ 
rating the plain from the Altamaha upland is poorly defined, and in 


66 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


places the two seem to merge. On the east the plain is separated 
from a lower coastal terrace by an abrupt descent or escarpment. 

The Okefenokee plain is essentially a featureless sandy flat, in which 
there are few streams and many cypress and gum ponds and swamps, 
whose areas range from a few acres or a few square miles to the 
immense expanse of the Okefenokee Swamp. It thus presents a con¬ 
trast to the rolling topography and dendritic drainage of the Alta- 
malia upland. The Okefenokee plain varies in elevation above sea 
level from about 60 to perhaps 125 feet, sloping eastward about 2 
feet to the mile. The drainage is poor, at least 25 per cent of the 
area being swampy, and the few creeks and branches flow through 
broad swampy flats only slightly lower than the general level. At 
only a few places are the bluffs as high as 30 or 40 feet. The flatness 
of the plain and its swampy condition are due to the newness of the 
land surface, the retreat of the sea having taken place in compara¬ 
tively recent geologic time, to the low altitude, and to the fact that 
the surface formation is a thick, loose, porous sand which absorbs 
the rainfall and hence lessens surface erosion. The streams are 
sluggish, and their waters, except those of the Altamaha and 
Savannah, are black or coffee-colored from organic matter. The 
region is characterized by moist long-leaf pine and saw-palmetto 
flats, cypress ponds, gallberry flats, and swamps supporting thick 
growths of gum and bay. 

Satilla coastal lowland .—The Satilla coastal lowland or Satilla. 
plain is a low marine terrace 20 to 35 miles wide that borders the 
Atlantic Ocean and includes part or all of the counties of Chatham, 
Bryan, Liberty, McIntosh, Glynn, and Camden. The western edge 
is marked by a rise of 20 to 40 feet, probably a Pleistocene shore 
line, which is prominent at Walthourville, Mount Pleasant, and 
Waynesville, and a short distance east of Folkston. 

The greater part of the plain is 15 to 25 feet above sea level, but 
in a few places it ireaches an elevation of about 40 feet. It has a 
slight eastward slope, somewhat difficult to estimate but generally 


PHYSIOGRAPHIC FEATURES OF GEORGIA 


67 


less than a foot to the mile. Although the plain is low, flat, and 
poorly drained it presents several different topographic aspects. It 
differs from the Okefenokee plain chiefly in its lower altitude, in 
its greater area of swamp and inundated land, and in its topographic 
forms, which are incident to low coast land. 

The western part of the belt is on the whole a sandy flat plaiu 
containing an open growth of long-leaf pine. Numerous small cy¬ 
press ponds and large swamp areas abound. Near the coast the 
plain presents a different aspect. Owing to recent submergence the 
coast line is irregular, and a network of sea islands, tidal rivers, 
sounds, estuaries, and marshes has been formed. The land termi¬ 
nates as beach on sea islands, as sand bluffs not more than 10 or 15 
feet above low tide, and as marshes at the mouths of the rivers. 
The islands are sand covered, and some of them exhibit sand dunes, 
which, however, nowhere reach great magnitude. 

The tree growth of the coast land is characterized by the cab¬ 
bage palmetto and live oaks, which are more abundant than farther 
west. 

There are two classes of swamp land, upland and tidal. Swamps 
of the upland class, of whicl; Buffalo Swamp, in the western part of 
Glynn County, is representative, probably occupy the sites of former 
shallow sounds or coastal lagoons and marshes which have become 
land through uplift and retreat of the sea, and which have not been 
inundated as a result of later subsidence indicated by drowned-river 
courses. Other upland swamps are apparently once more becoming 
lagoons, for the subsidence seems to be still going on and the sea 
to be slowly encroaching on the land. The best proof of this is the 
presence of tree stumps, and even dead standing trees, in brackish 
water marshes. 

The second class, the tidal swamps, occur in considerable areas 
along Savannah, Ogeechee, Altamaha, Satilla, and St. Mary’s rivers. 
They differ from salt marshes chiefly in that at high tide they are 
partly covered by the backing up of the fresh river water, instead 


68 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


of directly by the sea. They extend up the rivers 10 to 20 miles be¬ 
yond the salt marshes. 

The salt marshes reach their greatest extent at the mouths of 
the rivers, being caused mainly by subsidence of the coast, though 
silting of the low areas by the streams has doubtless been a factor. 

The Satilla plain is poorly drained, owing to the newness of the 
land surface and its low altitude. The few streams are sluggish, 
and with the exception of the Savannah and Altamaha rivers the 
waters are dark or even black from organic matter. Most of the 
streams flow eastward or southeastward, their courses having been 
determined by the general slope of the plain. Satilla and St. 
Mary’s rivers, however, in parts of their courses flow parallel to 
the coast—that is, at right angles to the terrace slope. 

PIEDMONT PLATEAU 

The Piedmont Plateau is a wide belt, or zone, of elevated land, 
stretching from the foot of the Appalachian Mountains to the 
Coastal Plain. Its northern limit is an ill-defined line, extending 
from the extreme northeastern corner of the State to the Georgia- 
Alabama line, a few miles southeast of Cedartown. It traverses 
the State from the northeast to the southwest, with an average 
width of more than 100 miles, and comprises an area of something 
like one-third of the total area of the State. This physiographic 
division consists of an old land form, which has been reduced by 
erosion to a peneplain. Along its northern boundary it has an aver¬ 
age elevation of about 1,200 feet above sea level, while at its junc¬ 
tion with the Coastal Plain it is reduced to a little less than half 
of this elevation. It has, therefore, a slope to the southward of 
about 5 feet per mile, or about twice the slope of the Coastal Plain. 

The Piedmont Plateau, when viewed from an elevated point, 
has the appearance of a level plain, dotted here and there with 
isolated mountains and hills, such as Stone Mountain, Kennesaw 
Mountain, and Pine Mountain, which rise from 500 to 800 feet 


PHYSIOGRAPHIC FEATURES OF GEORGIA 


69 


above the general level of the Plateau, and which appear to be rem¬ 
nants of an older and somewhat different topography. 

The minor inequalities of the surface of the Piedmont Plateau 
are entirely overlooked, or minimized, by a view from an elevated 
point. The region, instead of being a level plain, has a broken 
surface, made up of low, well-rounded hills and ridges, separated 
by narrow fertile valleys. These minor hills or ridges, which usually 
have a southwesterly trend, have an elevation varying from 200 to 
300 feet above the stream level. 

The streams of the Piedmont Plateau are usually rapid, and are 
frequently marked by cataracts and water-falls. This feature of 
the streams is especially accentuated along the margin of the Coast¬ 
al Plain. The river valleys, which are being continually increased 
in depth by the erosive action of the streams, rarely ever exceed 
a width of more than a few thousand yards. 

APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS 

This physiographic division is located in the northern part of 
the State, along the Georgia-Tennessee line, and extends as far 
south as Cartersville, the county site of Bartow County. It has 
a somewhat triangular form, being limited on the south by the 
Piedmont Plateau, and on the west by the Appalachian Valley. 
The western boundary may be said to correspond with what is 
known as the Cartersville fault, a great displacement marking the 
boundary between the metamorphic and the sedimentary rocks in 
the northwestern part of the State. This division embraces all, or 
a part of the following counties: Rabun, Towns, Lumpkin, Union, 
Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens and Bartow. It is one of the smallest of 
the five topographic divisions of the State; nevertheless it com¬ 
prises an area of more than 2,000 square miles. 

This division forms the southern terminus of the Appalachian 
Mountains. It is preeminently a mountain region, noted for its 
picturesque scenery and lofty mountains. The average elevation of 


70 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


the region is less than 2,000 feet, yet there are numerous moun¬ 
tains within the area attaining an altitude of more than twice this 
height. The larger mountains occur in groups or masses without 
definite arrangement. The higher peaks of these groups usually 
have precipitous slopes, which, in places, become almost inaccessible. 
The lesser mountains, and the ridges of the region generally, have 
a southwesterly trend, corresponding to the general course of the 
streams. The valleys are narrow and are traversed by rapid streams 
which, in places, form falls many feet in height. Between the main 
mountains and the ridges there is a large area of broken country, 
with hills rising 400 to 500 feet above the general stream level. 
This portion of the division resembles very closely the more hilly 
parts of the Piedmont Plateau. 

APPALACHIAN VALLEY 

The Appalachian Valley may be defined as a Ioav land, lying 
between the Appalachian Mountains and the Cumberland Plateau. 
This physiographic division, which traverses the northeastern cor¬ 
ner of the State in a southwesterly direction, is about 35 miles 
wide, and it has an average elevation of about 850 feet above sea 
level. Its western boundary is an irregular line, following the 
eastern escarpments of Pigeon and Lookout mountains. 

The region is made up of a number of minor valleys, separated 
from each other by sharp or by well-rounded ridges. The former 
ridges as in the case of Taylor’s ridge and Chattooga Mountain, 
often attain an altitude of 1,500 feet, while the latter rarely reaches 
a height of more than 1,200 feet. These ridges all have a north¬ 
east-southwest trend, and give to the region a corrugated appear¬ 
ance. The minor valleys are usually narrow and are traversed by 
rather sluggish streams, which in the northwestern part of the 
area flow north into the Tennessee River, while those in the other 
parts of the area flow southward to the Gulf of Mexico. 


PHYSIOGRAPHIC FEATURES OF GEORGIA 


71 


CUMBERLAND PLATEAU 

The Cumberland Plateau occupies the extreme northwestern 
corner of Georgia, and embraces Pigeon Mountain and portions of 
Lookout and Sand mountains. This physiographic division of the 
State constitutes the extreme eastern margin of the Cumberland 
Highlands, traversing Alabama and Tennessee further to the west¬ 
ward. Broadly speaking, the area is an elevated tableland, bisect¬ 
ed longitudinally by a deep, narrow valley. That part of the area 
lying east of the valley constitutes Lookout and Pigeon mountains, 
and that to the west Sand Mountain. These mountains have broad, 
flat tops, with an average elevation of about 1,800 feet above sea 
level. The slopes of the mountains are always precipitous, and are 
often marked by bold sandstone cliffs, which in some places at¬ 
tain a height of 200 feet. 

Lookout Mountain as it enters Georgia from Alabama forms 
a broad, flat-top mountain, about 10 miles in width. Some 6 or 8 
miles north of the State line the mountain sends off to the north¬ 
ward a spur known as Pigeon Mountain. Prom this point to its 
northern terminus in the vicinity of Chattanooga it varies in width 
from 2 to 4 miles. Some of the small streams, which take their rise 
on Lookout, in their descent to the valley below have cut deep and 
precipitous chasms in the sandstone bluffs which form the brow 
of the mountain. Sand Mountain, as represented in Georgia, dif¬ 
fers from Lookout Mountain mainly in being broader and in hav¬ 
ing a more even surface. The valley above referred to as bisect¬ 
ing the Cumberland Plateau region of Georgia is the only valley 
occuring in this physiographic division. It has an average width 
of about 3 miles and is traversed by Lookout Creek, a sluggish 
stream, of considerable size, flowing north into the Tennessee River. 
The surface of the valley is rolling, but at the same time it has a 
general slope to the northward. 


72 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 






























































GEOLOGY OF THE COASTAL PLAIN 


73 


CRETACEOUS SYSTEM 

Immediately south of the Fall line is a belt of sands, clays, and 
marls varying in width from about 5 to 35 miles and extending south- 
westward across the state from Augusta, through Macon, to Colum¬ 
bus. These deposits rest unconformably on the old crystalline base¬ 
ment rocks, from which their lower part was obviously derived. They 
are overlain unconformably by beds of unquestioned Eocene age. 

In the area adjacent to Chattahoochee River the lower part of 
these deposits consists of arkosic, micaceous, crossbedded sandy 
clays and gravels probably of Lower Cretaceous age, which were 
probably laid down in shallow non-marine water. Materials of this 
character extend into Alabama, where they are well developed as 
far west as Alabama River. They are traceable toward the north¬ 
east for a distance of about 25 miles, where they pinch out and dis¬ 
appear against the crystalline rocks of the Piedmont Plateau. These 
older non-marine beds are unconformably overlain in the Chatta¬ 
hoochee River area by interbedded gray calcareous sands and calca¬ 
reous clays or marls of marine origin (Eutaw and Ripley formations), 
some layers of which carry well-preserved Upper Cretaceous fossils. 
Toward the northeast these marine strata first intertongue with and 
finally merge completely into irregularly bedded sands and clays of 
shallow-water origin, which in this report are called undifferentiated 
Upper Cretaceous deposits. 

The Cretaceous of this region, as adapted from Stephenson 1 and 
others, is subdivided as follows: 


Series 

Formation 

Member 

Upper Cretaceous 

Ripley 

Providence sand 
Marine beds 

Cusseta sand 

/ - ? 


Eutaw 

Tombigbee sand 
Lower beds 

/ Undifferentiated 
/ Upper Cretaceous 

Lower Cretaceous 

Lower Cretaceous (?). 



‘Stephenson, L. W., U. S. Geol. Survey Prof. Pap. No. 81, pp. 19 et sea., 1914. 














74 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


LOWER CRETACEOUS (?) UNDIFFERENTIATED 
The strata in the vicinity of Columbus previously referred to as 
probably of Lower Cretaceous age outcrop along Chattahoochee 
River approximately from Columbus to the mouth of Upatoi Creek, 
a distance of about 9 miles. The area narrows to the east and termi¬ 
nates in a point near Geneva, about 25 miles east of Columbus, where 
the overlying Eutaw rests on the crystallines. The beds consist of 
about 375 feet of micaceous, cross-bedded sands, clays and gravels. 
They were derived from decomposed crystalline rocks and have been 
transported only a very short distance from their source. The beds 
rest unconformably upon crystalline rocks. 

The unconformity mentioned between these beds and the over- 
lying definitely recognized Eutaw would seem to indicate their pre- 
Eutaw age, and if the older beds are really of Lower Cretaceous age 
the unconformity is of considerable time significance. 

These non-marine beds have thus far failed to yield any well- 
preserved fossils in Georgia. On the basis, however, of their appar¬ 
ent relation to beds of more or less definite Lower Cretaceous age 
farther west in Alabama they have been referred to the lower Creta¬ 
ceous by Stephenson 1 , Berry 2 , and others. 

EUTAW FORMATION 

The Eutaw formation is exposed in western Georgia in a trian¬ 
gular area 10 miles wide along Chattahoochee River below the mouth 
of Upatoi Creek, but narrowing eastward and merging into the 
lower part of the undifferentiated Upper Cretaceous deposits. In 
the Chattahoochee River valley it rests with unconformity on the 
supposed Lower Cretaceous. At its outcrop the formation consists 
mainly of more or less fossiliferous, marine, dark-colored sands and 
clays, which are partly calcareous and attain a thickness of about 
550 feet. Stephenson recognizes a lower or basal member and an 
upper or Tombigbee sand member. 


’Stephenson, L. W., U. S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 81, p. 10, 1914. 

2 Berry, E. W., U. S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 112, p. 7, 1919. 



GEOLOGY OF THE COASTAL PLAIN 


75 


RIPLEY FORM ATT ONi 

The Ripley formation outcrops over a northeast-southwest belt 
in western Georgia extending from the Chattahoochee River, where it 
is about 15 miles wide, eastward to the Flint River. It rests with 
apparent conformity upon the Eutaw formation in the Chattahoochee 
River valley, and merges into the undifferentiated Upper Cretaceous 
farther eastward. In general the formation is marine and comprises 
dark-gray to green, fossiliferous sands, clays, and impure limestones. 
The total thickness of the Ripley in the region of its outcrop is 
thought to be about 900 feet. Members designated as the Cusseta 
sand and the Providence sand are recognized. In the Flint River 
valley the deposits merge with more or less intertongueing into the 
undifferentiated Upper Cretaceous deposits. 

UPPER CRETACEOUS UNDIFFERENTIATED 
Eastward from the Flint River valley, in a belt with a maximum 
width of about 35 miles, paralleling the Fall line and extending 
across the State, are the deposits referred to as undifferentiated Upper 
Cretaceous. The terrane consists of arkosic and micaceous sands, 
gravels, and clays, which were laid down in shallow water swept by 
chaotic currents. Commercial deposits of kaolin and gravel are 
common. The material evidently was removed from the weathered, 
highly kaolinized surface of the ancient crystalline rocks by rather 
sudden rejuvenation of drainage. These deposits are probably of 
Eutaw and Ripley age. They rest unconformably on the crystallines, 
are overlain unconformably by the Eocene in eastern Georgia, and 
grade into the Eutaw and Ripley formations in western Georgia, 
reaching a maximum thickness of about 600 feet. 

The lower part of these undifferentiated deposits has in previous 
reports by Stephenson, Berry, and others been regarded as Lower 
Cretaceous in age and as corresponding to the “Hamburg” of Sloan 


iStepheson, L. W., Geol. Survey Prof. Pap. No. 81, p. 21, 1914. 



76 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


in South Carolina and to the somewhat more definitely believed 
Lower Cretaceous of Alabama. In recent field work in Aiken County, 
S. C., however, Dr. C. W. Cooke found no evidence which warrants 
separating the “Hamburg beds” of Sloan, of the so-called Lower 
Cretaceous, from the overlying Middendorf, which lias been shown 
by Berry 1 and others to be of Upper Cretaceous age. Thus in the 
absence of paleontologic evidence to the contrary the “Hamburg 
beds” of western South Carolina and their apparent southwestward 
extension represented. by the so-called Lower Cretaceous of eastern 
Georgia are probably of Upper Cretaceous age. 

TERTIARY SYSTEM 

EOCENE SERIES 
MIDWAY FORMATION 2 

Areal distribution .—The Midway formation has a relatively small 
areal extent. It outcrops in a belt having a general northeast-south¬ 
west direction, and extending from Fort Gaines on the Chattahoochee 
River to Montezuma on the Flint River, and from Montezuma north 
and northeast into Houston County as far as the Perry branch of the 
Central of Georgia Railway. The areal width of outcrop of the for¬ 
mation on the Chattahoochee River is about 8 miles, on the Flint 
about 15 miles, and between these two rivers averages 8 to 10 miles. 

Stratigraphic position .—The Midway formation rests unconforma- 
bly upon the Upper Cretaceous. Exact contacts between the two are 
difficult to find because of scarcity of exposures and the lithologic 
similarity between the basal Midway and the upper beds of the Upper 
Cretaceous. 

Along the Chattahoochee River at Fort Gaines the Midway for¬ 
mation is separated from the overlying "Wilcox by a sharp unconfor¬ 
mity. In places the formation is overlain by loose sands, and along 
the Chattahoochee and Flint rivers by terrace deposits probably of 
Pleistocene age. 

'Berry, E. W., U. S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 112, p. 7, 1919. 

"After Stephenson, L. W., and Veatch, Otto, U. S., Geoi. Survey Water-Supply Paper 
No. 341, pp. 67-70, 1915. 



GEOLOGY OF THE COASTAL PLAIN 


77 


Lithologic character and thickness. —The Midway formation is 
principally marine. It consists of sands, clays, marls, and limestones, 
with occasional thin flint beds. The sands are vari-colored, though 
often gray and drab. The limestones are usually hard, arenaceous, 
and highly fossiliferous. The clays usually occur in massive white 
lenses. The marls consist mainly of quartz sand, clay, glauconite, and 
shells. Fullers earth occurs at places. The sands and clays make 
up the greater part of the formation. The thickness of the formation 
may be as great as 400 feet along the Flint River. Along the Chat¬ 
tahoochee the thickness is probably in the neighborhood of 200 feet. 

WILCOX FORMATION 1 

Areal distribution. —The Wilcox formation is of very limited 
areal extent. It outcrops as a belt with a northeast-southwest trend 
from Fort Gaines on the Chattahoochee River to the Flint River in 
Sumter County. The width of the outcrop probably averages 5 or 
6 miles. 

Stratigraphic position. —The Wilcox formation embraces the strata 
lying between the Midway and Claiborne formations. Along the Chat¬ 
tahoochee River it rests unconformably on the Midway formation. 
East of the Chattahoochee River satisfactory contacts between the 
Midway and Wilcox are very scarce, making an exact line of separa¬ 
tion difficult to place. 

The Wilcox formation is overlain by the Claiborne deposits. 
Where observed the contact is marked by an undulatory line of peb¬ 
bles of coarse material, but shows no pronounced physical evidence 
of any considerable time interval between the deposition of the two 

» v 

formations. 

Lithologic character and thickness. —The Wilcox formation varies 
considerably from place to place. Along the Chattahoochee River 
it consists chiefly of dark, laminated, often lignitic, sandy clay, in 
places consolidated to mudstone; sandy, glauconitic shell marl; and 

1 After Stephenson, L. W., and Veatch, Otto, U. S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 
No. 341, pp. 70-73, 1915. 



78 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


dark, lignitie, argillaceous sand. In Randolph County west and 
north of Cuthbert the formation in places resembles fuller’s earth, 
and in other places seems to consist largely of vari-colored, somewhat 
kaolinic sand. In places in ‘Webster County the formation is gray to 
drab, laminated, glauconitic clay and sand. To the east in Schley 
and Macon counties, it appears to be made up of red to white sands 
with massive beds of white clay. 

The exact thickness of the Wilcox formation is not definitely 
known. At Fort Gaines it probably does not exceed 75 feet. At 
Peterson Hill, northwest of Cuthbert 41/2 miles, about 100 feet of 
the strata are exposed. 

CLAIBORNE GROUP 1 

Formations and areal extent. —The Claiborne group in Georgia 
is represented by the McBean formation and undifferentiated Clai¬ 
borne deposits. The McBean formation outcrops in the extreme north¬ 
eastern corner of the Coastal Plain, along McBean Creek, Spirit Creek, 
Little Spirit Creek, and for a short distance along the Savannah 
River. The undifferentiated Claiborne deposits outcrop as a narrow 
irregular strip extending from the Chattahoochee River below Fort 
Gaines northeastward to the Flint River, along which it outcrops for 
a few miles in Sumter and Dooly counties. 

MCBEAN FORMATION 

Stratigraphic position. —The McBean formation rests uncon¬ 
form ably upon the Upper Cretaceous strata, and is in turn overlain 
by the Barnwell formation, from which it is probably separated, at 
least locally, by an unconformity. It is overlapped by the Barnwell 
formation. 

Lithologic character and thickness. —The McBean formation is 
made up chiefly of gray marl or sandy limestone, and yellow sand, 
with a small amount of lignitie material and greenish clay. The 
greatest observed thickness does not exceed 80 feet. 

*After Cooke, C. W., and Shearer, H. K., U. S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 
120-C, pp. 49-51, 1918. 



GEOLOGY OF THE COASTAL PLAIN 


T9 


UNDIFFERENTIATED CLAIBORNE DEPOSITS 

Stratigraphic position. —Between the Chattahoochee and Flint 

t 

rivers the Claiborne rests uneonformably upon the Wilcox formation. 
Erosion unconformities have been noted at Fort Gaines and near 
Cuthbert. The Claiborne deposits are overlain uneonformably by 
red argillaceous sand of undetermined age, from which they are not 
readily distinguished lithologically. 

Lithologic character. —The best exposures of the Claiborne are 
along Chattahoochee River at Fort Gaines and in the Danville 
Ferry Bluff on the Flint River, 16 V 2 miles east of Americus. In 
the Fort Gaines area the strata consists of gray to drab sand and 
clays, in part calcareous, claystone, and clay somewhat resembling 
fuller’s earth. West of Cuthbert the strata appear to be of dark-red, 
argillaceous sand with a few clay laminae, and fine gravel. 

Thickness. —The exact thickness of the undifferentiated Clai¬ 
borne deposits is not known. In the l^ort Gaines area the thickness 
has been estimated as not exceeding 200 feet. The beds probably 
thin to the eastward. 


DEPOSITS OF JACKSON AGE' 

The deposits of Jackson age in Georgia include the Ocala lime¬ 
stone and the Barnwell formation, which are at least partly con¬ 
temporaneous. 


OCALA LIMESTONE 

Areal distribution and thickness. —The Ocala limestone is in gen¬ 
eral exposed over the southern part of the Dougherty Plain and over 
a northeastward interrupted narrow strip of country as far as the 
Ocmulgee River south of Macon. Throughout this area probably its 
greatest thickness is around Albany, where the city well No. 2 indi¬ 
cates a thickness of about 300 feet. 


’Cooke, C. W., and Shearer, H. K., U. S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper No. 120-C, 1918. 



80 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


Stratigraphic position and lithological nature. —The formation 
where exposed consists of sands, clays, and rather pure, white, fossili- 
ferous limestones. The latter material has through solution formed 
innumerable lime sinks so characteristic of the area. Some of the 
beds of limestone are silicified in many localities, giving large boulders 
of residual chert. Farther eastward, under cover of younger forma¬ 
tions, the Ocala is shown by well cuttings to consist mainly of white 
fossiliferous limestones. 


BARNWELL FORMATION 

Areal distribution and stratigraphic position. —The Barnwell for¬ 
mation outcrops over an area about 35 miles wide, extending from 
the Ocmulgee River eastward to the Savannah River. Throughout 
the western part of this area it rests unconformably on the Cretaceous, 
.while in the region south of Augusta it lies with conformity upon the 
McBean formation. 

Lithologic nature and thickness. —In the Savannah River area 
the Barnwell consists chiefly of red sands with thin fossiliferous chert 
beds underlain by beds of impure fossiliferous limestone, marl, and 
clay. On passing westward the clay members become more prominent 
and include many commercial deposits of greenish gray fuller’s earth. 
The maximum thickness of the exposed area of Barnwell is about 
200 feet. 

In the Ocmulgee River area the Barnwell formation interfingers 
with the Ocala limestone, the latter probably representing a deeper 
water phase of deposits of nearly the same age. 

OLIGOCENE SERIES 
VICKSBURG GROUP 

There are no known exposures of deposits of Vicksburg age in 
Georgia older than the Glendon formation. In western Florida the 
Marianna limestone, of pre-Glendon Vicksburg age, is exposed a short 


PETROLEUM POSSIBILITIES OF GEORGIA 


PLATE V 



A. PROSPECT OIL WELL, MIDDLE GEORGIA OIL AND GAS COMPANY, NEAR JEFF 
DAVIS—COFFEE COUNTY LINE, 15 MILES WEST OF HAZELHURST—MARCH 192L 



B. INDURATED ALUM BLUFF FORMATION AT WATER FALLS ON MILL CREEK, 

JEFF DAVIS COUNTY. 























GEOLOGY OF TEE COASTAL PLAIN 


81 


distance west of the Chattahoochee River, and it is possible that de¬ 
posits of this age are present in Georgia, over-lapped by the Glendon. 

GLENDON FORMATION 1 

Areal distribution and thickness. —The Glendon outcrop forms a 
border inland from the Altamaha upland from the mouth of 
Flint River to Wrightsville, varying in width from about 8 to 40 
miles. In addition an irregular strip, averaging about 15 miles in 
width, extends westward from Cordele to Fort Gaines. The Ocala 
area intervening between these two strips of Glendon outcrop was 
evidently at one time covered with Glendon material. The maximum 
thickness of the Glendon thoroughout its areal distribution is thought 
not to exceed 100 feet, averaging 50 feet. A small isolated area of 
Glendon outcrops in Screven and Burke counties in the Savannah 
River area. 

Stratigraphic position and lithologic nature. —The Glendon forma¬ 
tion unconformably overlies the Ocala limestone along the Flint 
River belt of outcrop from the mouth of the Flint to a point about 
10 miles southeast of Oglethorpe. Thence it extends interruptedly, 
with an unconformable relation to the Ocala and Barnwell, respec¬ 
tively, eastward to Wrightsville. Near Oglethorpe it overlaps upon 
the Midway. Throughout the area extending westward from Cordele 
the upper edge of the belt lies unconformably on the Claiborne, while 
its southern edge rests unconformably on the Ocala. The exposed 
Glendon consists chiefly of chert-bearing sands, and clays. Under 
cover and at a few recently bared exposures the formation is chiefly 
limestone. 

CHATTAHOOCHEE FORMxVTION 2 

Areal distribution and thickness. —In southwest Georgia the Chat¬ 
tahoochee formation is exposed over a few small isolated areas, in¬ 
cluding lime sinks, in Decatur, Grady, Thomas, Brooks, Lowndes, and 

’Cooke, C. W„ U. S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper No. 132-A, 1923, and unpub¬ 
lished notes. 


2 Cooke, C. W., unpublished notes. 



82 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


Echols counties. In the Savannah River region a small outcrop oc¬ 
curs along Brier Creek, in northeastern Screven County. The maxi¬ 
mum thickness of the formation over the areas of exposure is prob¬ 
ably about 100 feet. 

Stratigraphy and lithologic Nature .—The Chattahoochee forma¬ 
tion is generally regarded as Oligocene in age, although evidence now 
indicates that it may be early Miocene. It lies unconformably above 
the G-lendon. This unconformity probably corresponds to the time 
interval represented in Alabama and Mississippi by the Byram marl, 
which is absent in Georgia. Throughout the western part of its 
area of outcrop the formation consists of sands, clays, and sandy, 
impure, conglomeratic limestone. Farther eastward in southern 
Georgia the limestone increases in purity but retains its conglomeratic 
nature. 


MIOCENE SERIES 

The Miocene strata outcrop over more than half of the Coastal 
Plain of Georgia, forming a belt 50 to 120 miles wide across the cen¬ 
tral portion of the Coastal Plain. The strike of the beds is approxi¬ 
mately northeast. The areal extent is approximately outlined by 
the physiographic subdivisions of the Coastal Plain known as the 
Altamaha upland and the Southern lime-sink region. On the east 
the Miocene outcrops are bounded by the Okefenokee plain, and the 
inland or western limits are marked by the escarpment on the east side 
of the Flint River and north to Vienna, thence roughly northeast 
through Dublin, thence to Sandersville, then to Midville, and thence 
northeast to the Savannah River. (See maps I, III.) 

The Miocene series embraces the Alum Bluff formation and the 
Marks Head and Duplin marls. The latter two formations are of 
insignificant areal extent as compared to the Alum Bluff formation. 


GEOLOGY OF THE COASTAL PLAIN 


83 


ALUM BLUFF FORMATION 

Distribution and character .—The Alum Bluff formatiou occupies 
practically the whole of the areal extent of the Miocene series, with 
the exception of small strips along Savannah, Altamaha, and Satilla 
rivers. 

The formation varies considerably in lithologic character from 
place to place. It is often characterized by gray to red, indurated, 
coarse sands and gravels, often argillaceous, and commonly cemented 
by iron oxide. Usually associated with the sandstone are white to 
red, mottled, sandy, massive clays. These indurated sands and clays 
form steep bluffs along many of the streams, and also the cappings 
of many of the hills. Laterally the sands and clays vary rapidly, 
the more resistant portions being largely responsible for the, topo¬ 
graphic forms developed throughout the Alum Bluff area. Where 
the formation has been encountered in numerous wells, and at out¬ 
crops along some of the streams, the upper part consists of light-col¬ 
ored sands, clays, and gravel, and the lower part mainly of laminated, 
greenish to bluish marine clays, generally unfossiliferous, and often 
somewhat resembling fuller’s earth. In places it contains thin flint 
beds, and at numerous localities thin beds of limestone are reported 
from the lower portion of the formation. 

The formation is apparently all of shallow-water origin. It ap¬ 
pears to be in large part marine, though some of the sands, clays, and 
gravels of the upper part seem to indicate, by their cross-bedding, 
their rapid lateral gradation, their oxidation, and their generally 
heterogeneous character, a fresh-water or stream origin. 

Stratigraphic relationships .—The Alum Bluff, where buried, is 
separated from the overlying formations by an unconformity. In 
Johnson, Jefferson, Burke and part of Jenkins counties at least the 
Alum Bluff formation rests on Eocene strata from which it is sepa¬ 
rated by a major unconformity. In the southwestern corner of the 


84 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


state the formation apparently rests conformably on the Chattahoo¬ 
chee formation. Along its inland limits, between Johnson County 
on the northeast and the southwestern corner of the state, the forma¬ 
tion rests upon the Glendon formation, of Oligocene age, from which 
it is apparently separated by an unconformity, probably representing 
a considerable time interval, embracing all of Chattahoochee and 
possibly part of Glendon and Miocene time. In the northern part of 
Screven County the Alum Bluff rests upon beds of Tampa age, the 
exact relationship of the two not being clearly shown. The Tampa 
is considered to be approximately of Chattahoochee age, thus tending 
to show’ no time break of magnitude between the Tampa and the 
overlying Alum Bluff. 

Thickness and rate of dip. —The thickness of the Alum Bluff forma¬ 
tion varies from a thin covering along its inland limits to probably 
more than 350 feet along the present seacoast. In general the forma¬ 
tion dips in a southeastward direction at the rate of from 3 to 5 feet 
per mile. 

Structure. —Structurally the Alum Bluff formation has variable 
significance, which w r ill be discussed in greater detail in succeeding 
pages of this bulletin. Suffice to say at this point that the upper 
indurated sands and clays, where exposed as outcrops, have no trust¬ 
worthy significance from the point of indicating true structural con¬ 
ditions. 

MARKS HEAD MARL 1 . 

Areal distribution and lithologic character. —The Marks Head marl 
has been differentiated along the Savannah River at and near Porter’s 
Landing, Effingham County, in sections above Porter’s Landing as 
far as Hudson’s Ferry, and in sections below Porter’s Landing as 
far as Sister’s Ferry. The beds consist of gray to brownish, com¬ 
pact, argillaceous sands, with large calcareous nodules and some 
friable, phosphatic, fossiliferous sands. The maximum thickness ob¬ 
served is at Porter’s Landing and totals about 45 feet. 

AAfter Stephenson. L. W., and Veatch, Otto, U. S. G. S. Water-Sup. Paper 
No. 341, pp. 98-99, 1915. 



GEOLOGY OF THE COASTAL PLAIN 


85 


Stratigraphic position. —The Marks Head marl rests upon the 
Alum Bluff formation, and from scanty evidence the two appear to 
be separated by an erosion unconformity. However, the paleontologic 
evidence especially tends to show that the time interval represented 
by the apparent unconformity is small. Lying above the Marks Head 
marl is the Duplin marl. These two formations are separated by an 
unconformity of considerable time magnitude, the Marks Head marl 
being early Miocene and the Duplin marl being late Miocene. 

Structure. —Structurally the Marks Head marl has practically 
no significance, because of its very limited known extent. It dips 
gently to the south, at probably 4 feet or less to the mile. 

DUPLIN MARL 1 

Areal distribution and lithologic character. —The Duplin marl has 
been differentiated on the Savannah River at Porter’s Landing, Mt. 
Pleasant Landing, iy 2 miles below Porter’s Landing, in sections as 
far above Porter’s Landing as Hudson’s Ferry, and as far below 
Porter’s Landing as Parisburg, S. C., 23 miles above Savannah. On 
the Altamaha River the formation has been differentiated at Doctor- 
town, Buzzards Roost Bluff, and at Bugs Bluff. 

The formation as exposed on the Savannah River is mainly a 
shell marl, made up of shells in a matrix of coarse phosphatic sand. 
In places, however, the formation is largely fine, gray to brown, quartz 

sand, with verv few fossils and little calcareous material. On the 

*• 

Savannah River the maximum thickness is probably not more than 
10 or 12 feet. 

The Duplin marl as exposed on the Altamaha River consists of 
soft, sandy and pebbly shell marls, and compact, fine-grained, argil¬ 
laceous, fossiliferous, bluish sands. It is probably not more than 12 
or 15 feet in thickness. 


1 After Stephenson. L. W„ and Veatch, Otto, U. S. Geol. Surey Water-Sup. Paper No. 
341. pp. 99-100, 1915. 



86 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


Stratigraphic position .—Along the Savannah River the Duplin 
marl rests unconformably on the Marks Head marl, or, where the lat¬ 
ter is absent, upon the Alum Bluff formation. The formation is gen¬ 
erally unconformably overlain by younger formations. 

Along the Altamaha River the Duplin marl unconformably over- 
lies the Alum Bluff, and in turn is overlain by loose sands of probably 
both Pliocene and Pleistocene age. 

Structure .—Along both the Savannah and the Altamaha Rivers 
the Dnplin marl is of too limited extent to be of value structurally. 
It probably dips south and southeast at the rate of about 3 feet per 
mile. 

UNCLASSIFIED MIOCENE DEPOSITS 

Along the Satilla River in the vicinity of Owens Ferry a compact 
sand and calcareous sandstone of Miocene age is exposed at low tide. 

Material dredged from the Brunswick River at Brunswick is con¬ 
sidered to be of Miocene age. It consists of fragments of bone, and 
teeth, cpiartz sand and pebbles, sandy marl or shells in a matrix of 
phosphatie sand, argillaceous limestone, and hard clay. The extent 
of the deposits is not known. 

PLIOCENE (?) SERIES 1 
CHARLTON FORMATION 

The Pliocene series is probably represented in the Coastal Plain of 
Georgia by the Charlton formation. Its areal extent is quite small, be¬ 
ing confined to a narrow strip along the St. Mary’s River from Stokes 
Ferry, 11 miles south of St. George, Charlton County, to Orange Bluff, 
near King’s Ferry, Florida. Fossiliferous marls referable to the same 
formation have been found at Burnt Fort, on the Satilla River, 12 
miles northeast of Folkston, and 6 miles east of Winoker, both in 
Charlton County, and at the King plantation, 6 miles south of Atkin¬ 
son, Wayne County. 

The formation consists of an argillaceous limestone and clay ma¬ 
terial. The exact thickness of the formation is not known, as no ex- 

1 After Stephenson, L. W., and Veatch, Otto, U. S. Geol. Survey Water-Sup. Pap. 
No. 341, pp. 100-102, 1915. 



GEOLOGY OF THE COASTAL PLAIN 


87 


posures of more than 15 feet of strata have beeii observed. Struct¬ 
urally the formation has little or no significance. 

QUATERNARY SYSTEM 

PLEISTOCENE SERIES 1 
COLUMBIA GROUP 

The Pleistocene deposits of the Coastal Plain of Georgia consist of 
thin accumulations of sand, clay, and gravel deposited on marine and 
river terraces. These deposits are not superimposed one upon the 
other but occupy terraces at different topographic levels, thus tend¬ 
ing to merge laterally. The details of the Pleistocene deposits have 
not yet been fully worked out, and will probably only finally be de¬ 
termined on detailed topographic work. The description as here given 
is taken from U. S. G. S. Water-Supply Paper 341, with only some of 
the major features set forth. The classification of the Pleistocene 
series thus given is as follows: 

COLUMBIA GROUP: 

Satilla formation: Okefenokee formation : 

Marine terrace deposits Coastal terrace sand 

Fluviatile deposits Fluviatile deposits 

OKEFENOKEE FORMATION 

Distribution and character .—The Okefenokee formation is made 
up in part of coastal terrace deposits and in part of deposits laid down 
on fluviatile or river terraces. During the deposition of the Okefe¬ 
nokee formation the coast line was probably 40 to 75 miles inland from 
its present position. The coastal terrace deposits and the river terrace 
deposits were probably laid down at the same time. 

Coastal deposits .—The coastal terrace portion of the Okefenokee 
formation corresponds essentially to the physiographic subdivision 
of the Coastal Plain designated the Okefenokee Plain. (Map p. 60.) 
The western boundary is marked approximately by a line from Sister’s 

’After Stephenson, L. W., and Veatch, Otto, U. S. Geol. Survey Water-Sup. Pap. No. 
341, pp. 102-111, 1915. 



88 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


Ferry or Clyo, on the Savannah River, southwestward through the 
town of Flemington to Jesup, thence to 'Waycross and thence along 
the western boundary of Okefenokee Swamp. The eastern boundary is 
marked by a rather distinct escarpment 20 to 40 miles from the pre¬ 
sent coast, which separates the plain from the Satilla terrace. 
(Map page 60.) 

In general the deposits of the Okefenokee formation consists of 
gray quartz sand. Some red and yellow sands, with occasional thin 
clay beds, probably belong to the same formation. The sand is us¬ 
ually loose, or entirely unconsolidated, but becomes more compact 
with depth. In places the sand is indurated, probably by a cementing 
material of iron oxide. 

The thickness of the sand is nowhere very great, probably never 
exceeding 20 feet, and averages less than 10 feet. It is spread over 
a practically featureless flat plain, with occasional bluffs 30 or 40 
feet high along a few of the larger streams. In places the sands have 
been piled up as low ridges and hills. 

Structurally the Okefenokee formation is of very little signifi¬ 
cance, conforming to the gentle seaward slope of the plain and vary¬ 
ing in elevation from about 60 to 125 feet. 

Fluviatile terrace deposits .—Bordering the major streams of the 
Coastal Plain are the remnants of a plain higher than the Satilla plain 
and somewhat lower than the general upland portions of the region. 
The deposits on this plain are believed to be contemporaneous with 
the coastal deposits of the Okefenokee formation. The river terraces 
and the coastal terraces tend to merge one with the other. 

The river-terrace plains are 50 to 125 feet above the present rivers. 
The deposits overlie successively the older formations of the Coastal 
Plain, from the Cretaceous to the Pliocene. Often times, due to lith¬ 
ologic similarity, it is difficult to separate the terrace deposits from 
the underlying older formations. 

The deposits consist in the main of red argillaceous sands, Avith 
pebbles and coarse gravels in places. The sands are chiefly of quartz 


GEOLOGY OF TUE COASTAL PLAIN 


89 


and most of the pebbles are quartz or quartzite, but a few are 
limestone, chert, or limonite. 

The formation is nowhere of any great thickness, being usually 
less than 20 feet and rarely exceeding 50 feet. It is usually poorly 
consolidated, but in places is cemented with iron oxide. The deposits 
are confined to the plains bordering the rivers, and range from 1 to 
10 miles in width. 

Like the deposits of the coastal terrace, those of the stream ter¬ 
races are lacking in any structural significance. 

SATILLA FORMATION 

The Satilla formation occupies a strip 20 to 30 miles wide bor¬ 
dering the present coast line. It occupies the physiographic subdi¬ 
vision of the Coastal Plain designated the Satilla coastal lowland. 
(Map p. 60.) Two types of deposits are embraced within the for¬ 
mation, namely the coastal marine deposits and the river terrace or 
fluviatile deposits. 

Coastal terrace deposits .—The coastal terrace deposits rest upon an 
old wave-cut terrace extending 20 to 30 miles inland from the pres¬ 
ent coast. They consist of greenish to bluish marine clays, gray, 
white and yellow sands, and some thin layers of gravel. 

The sands are of the greatest extent, and consist largely of quartz 
grains, with small amounts of mica, magnetite, ilmenite, and some 
other rare minerals. They are nowhere consolidated. The clays 
are fine textured and generally massive in character. In places they 
become calcareous and contain some fossil remains. The sands 
and clays are closely associated and are regarded as contemporaneous. 
The maximum thickness of the deposits probably does not exceed 

i 

50 feet. 

Fluviatile terrace deposits .—The fluviatile deposits of the Sat¬ 
illa formation form low terraces along the major streams of the Coastal 
Plain. They consist of unconsolidated sands, clays, and gravels. 
These vary somewhat in character along the different streams. 


90 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


The river terraces of the Satilla formation are relatively flat 
plains lying 10 to 50 feet above the rivers and varying in width from 
a few yards up to 10 miles. In general they extend from the Fall 
line to the marine terrace plain with which they merge. 

Structurally the marine terrace deposits and the river terrace de¬ 
posits of the Satilla formation have no real significance, being with¬ 
out distinct continuous beds and forming a thin mantle over older 
formations. 


REGIONAL DIP OF FORMATIONS 

The regional dip of the formations of the Coastal Plain of Georgia 
is approximately southeast. The rate of dip is about as follows: 
Crystalline floor, 35 feet per mile; top of upper Cretaceous, 20 feet 
per mile; top of Eocene, 8 feet per mile; top of Oligoeene, 5 feet 
per mile; top of Miocene, 3 feet per mile. 


CORRELATION TABLE OF PRINCIPAL GULF COAST FORMATIONS, 
SHOWING THOSE THAT HAVE PRODUCED OIL OR GAS 

The following table shows the principal formations of the Gulf 
Coast region from Georgia to Texas, inclusive. Stars indicate the 
formations which are known to have produced oil or gas. It will be 
seen that throughout the Coastal Plain of Georgia are many form¬ 
ations the approximate equivalents of which farther west are pro¬ 
ductive. This, however, does not necessarily indicate that the cor¬ 
responding formations will be found productive in Georgia, 


Correlation Table of Principal Gulf Coast Formations, Showing Those That Have Produced Oil or Gas. 


CORRELATION TABLE 


91 


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Coi-relation Table of Principal Gulf Coast Formations, Shounng Those That Have Produced Oil or Gas .— ( Continued.) 


92 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


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PETROLEUM POSSIBILITIES OF GEORGIA 


PLATE VI 



A. EOCENE BASAL CONGLOMERATE OVER BAUXITE, EAST FACE OF CARSWELL 
MINE, NEAR McINTYRE, WILKINSON COUNTY. 



B. PROSPECT OIL WELL, SAVANNAH OIL AND GAS CORPORATION, 7 MILES WEST 

OF SAVANNAH—JULY, 1«J20. 




























































































































































DEEP WELLS OF THE COASTAL PLAIN 

SOME DEEP WELLS OF THE COASTAL PLAIN 


93 


The general lithologic nature of the formations of the Coastal 
Plain, as far down in the geologic column as near the top of the Eu- 
taw formation, is indicated by the following well logs. These logs 
are either compiled from examinations of cuttings or are taken from 
United States Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper No. 341 or 
from bulletins of the Georgia Survey. 

WELL LOGS 

Log of city artesian well No. 2, Albany, Ga. 

Tertiary: Depth, feet 

35. Red clay _ 0-20 

34. Light-colored clay - 20—23 

33. Coarse sand (Vicksburg)- 23-25 

32. Light-colored clay and coarse quartz sand- 25—35 

31. Limestone; Orbitoides sp. at 150 feet and from 190 to 200 feet— 35—200 

30. Gray limestone; Orbitoides sp., echinoid, bryozoa, Terebratulina 

lachryma (Morton) ; some shale from 230 to 240 feet- 200—280 

29. Gray sand with comminuted shells ( Ostrea )- 280—285 

28. Some shale, coarse sand, shell, and sharks teeth at- 311 

27. Hard layer; Ostrea divaricata Lea- 318—320 

26. Ostrea divaricata Lea at_ 330 

25. Ostrea alabamensis Lea at_ 340 

24. Shale or marl, water vein at_ 350 

23. Ostrea divaricata Lea and Ostrea alabamensis Lea at_ 363 

22. Bed of lignite at_ 367 

21. Bed of lignite at_ 400 

20. Sand _ 400-475 

19. Stiff, blue clay; echinoid spines, Lamna sp. (teeth)_ 470—475 

18. Stiff blue clay_ 475—480 

17. Hard gray sandstone_ 485—488 

Upper Cretaceous: 

Ripley formation: 

16. Ostrea sp. and Exogyra costata Say?_ 500—510 

15. Pyrite and small oysters at_ 520 

14. Greensands and greenish micaceous shales_ 530—540 

13. Gray sand with black particles at_ 600 

12. Water-bearing horizon, limestone, with pieces of hard gray sand¬ 
stone, between 785 and 790 feet_ 690—790 

11. Hard rock _ 790-800 

10. Clay shales; white limestone between 835 and 840_ 800—850 

9. Limestone, shales, etc. At 880 feet limestone or calcareous sand, 

also light-gray micaceous sand_ 850—890 

8. Grayish sand, calcareous, fragments, hard black pieces of pebbles; 

Ostrea sp., Anomia argentaria Morton. Gryphcca vesicularis 
Lamarck (young) at 890 feet. Water-bearing micaceous stone 
between 920 and 930 feet_ 890-940 

7. Blue, micaceous clay at 950 feet, thick-shelled oyster, Oryphcea 
sp.; the same also at 1080 feet; at 1100 feet gray sand with 
Ostrea subspatulata Forbes, Exogyra costata Say_ 940—1100 






























94 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


Log of city artesian well No. 2, Albany, Ga. — continued. 

6. Stiff blue clay, micaceous sandstone; Ostrea cretacea Morton(?)—1100-1200 
5. Very stiff blue clay, at 1255 feet, streaks of sand and shells, a 

small flow of water; from 1240 to 1260, soft shiny blue clay—1200—1260 

4. Marl, gray sand, sandstone lumps-1260—1270 

3. Gray and black sand, sandstone lumps-1270—1310 

2. Black, irregular, water-worn pebbles with hard crystalline frac¬ 
ture; coarse and fine quartz sand, shells, decayed wood; third 

water-bearing stratum; 50 gallons per minute_1310—1315 

1. Well ends in quartz sand at_ 1320 


Fossils from this well, identified by Dr. T. W. Vaughan, indicate 
Tertiary material down to 500 feet, with the Ripley formation, of 
Upper Cretaceous age, from 500 feet to the bottom. The Tertiary 
formations penetrated apparently include, in descending order, the 
Ocala, Claiborne, "Wilcox and Midway formations. 


Log of oil prospect well at Cherokee LI ill, 6 miles northwest of Savannah 


Depth, feet 


Dark-gray sand with carbonaceous material- 

Medium-grained gray sand with fragments of shell- 

Porous, gi'ay, fossiliferous limestone; bryozoa abundant— 

Same as 250_ 

Same as above, with some flint- 

Same as 250, sea urchin fragments- 

Same as above, with some flint_ 

Same as above, though darker color_ 

Light gray, consisting almost entirely of bryozoa fragments 

Same as above_ 

Same as above_ 

Same as above_ 

Same as above_ 

Same as above_ 

Same as above, but whiter_ 

Same as above, but whiter_ 

Same as above, but whiter_ 

Same as above, but whiter_ 

Same as above, but whiter_ 

Soft, porous, fossiliferous limestone_ 


Same 

as 

360 



Same 

as 

465 



Same 

as 

470 



Largely bryozoa remains 

Dark-gray 

limestone; nummulites and 

bryozoa 


Same 

as 

above 



Same 

as 

above 



Same 

as 

above 



Same 

as 

above 



Porous, gray limestone; nummulites 

abundant 


Same 

as 

above 



Same 

as 

above 



Same 

as 

above 



Same 

as 

above_ _ 




21 

240 

250 

260 

270 

280 

300 

350 

360 

370 

380 

390 

400 

410 

425 

430 

440 

450 

460 

465 

470 

475 

485 

500 

510 

520 

530 

540 

550 

560 

570 

580 

590 

600 








































DEEP WELL LOGS OF THE COASTAL PLAIN 95 

Log of oil prospect well at Cherokee Hill, 6 miles northwest of Savannah — con. 

Depth, feet 

Porous limestone; nummulites not so numerous- 610 

Mostly calcareous sand; but few fossils_ 620 

Same as above_ 630 

Same as above- 640 

Same as above_ 650 

Same as above_ 660 

Same as above; more fossils_ 670 

Same as above; particles of limestone larger_ 680 

Gray fossiliferous limestone _ 690 

Gray fossiliferous limestone_ 700 

Gray fossiliferous limestone_ 710 

Gray fossiliferous limestone_ 720 

Gray fossiliferous limestone_ 730 

Gray fossiliferous limestone_._ 740 

Gray fossiliferous limestone-*_ 750 

White, fairly hard limestone; crinoid fragments_ 760 

Same as last_ 770 

White, granular limestone; bryozoa, gastropods_ 810 

Yellowish white, fairly hard limestone; numerous pectens, bryozoa, and other 

fragments _ 820 

Same as last, not so yellow___ 830 

Same as last_ 840 

Gray, rather hard limestone, with considerable dark-gray flint; bryozoa and lamelli- 

branchs in the limestone_ 850 

White, hard limestone, fossiliferous_ 860 

White, fairly hard limestone, with numerous fragments of large shells and pieces of 

bryozoa and crinoids, practically no flint_ 870 

Mostly light to dark-gray flint; gray flint is somewhat sandy; a little limestone with 

usual fossils_ 880 

Light and dark-gray, flint-like cast, some pieces altering to gray sandy material; 

pyrite fragments_ 890 

Same as last_ 900 

Same as last, with more of the light-gray sandy material- 910 

Like last, with about half of it of limestone; considerable fine-grained sandstone- 920 

Fine-grained, gray, sandy flint and dark-gray flint, a little limestone_.- 940 

Same as last- 950 

Light-gray, very soft, marly limestone; no fossils preserved; pieces of phosphate, 

glauconite, and possibly fragments of shark teeth_ 960 

Same as last, more glauconite and phosphate- 970 

Same as last_ : - 980 

Pale-green marl with considerable limestone; fragments of bryozoa, crinoids, some 

pyrite, and a little flint (probably dropped from above)- 990 

Gray to green marl with some limestone containing bryozoa, lamellibranchs, and other 
fossil fragments; green marl has large amount of glauconite and possibly some 

organic matter_ 1000 

Pale grayish-green marl, with no fossils imprints. Some glauconite- 1010 

Same as last- 1030 

Same as last, darker in color- 1040 

Same as last--- 1 <*50 

Same as last_ 1060 

Same as last_—--- l f| 60 

Same as last- 1090 

Same as last_ 1100 

Same as last_ 1110 

Same as last_ 1130 

Same as last_ 1140 

Same as last_ 1150 

Same as last_-- 1160 

Same as last_ 1170 

Same ns last_ 1180 




















































96 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


Log of oil prospect well at Cherokee Hill, 6 miles northwest of Savannah — con. 

Depth, feet 

Dark-gray to blue flint with some Sandy flint and a little marl; no fossil traces- 1190 

Same as last_ 1200 

Same as last, with some white sandy marl- 1210 

Same as last. The flint in this and similar samples is probably in form of nodules 
irregularly distributed through a gray sandy marl, as fragments appear show¬ 
ing a gradation from the dark flint into the sandy marl- 1220 

Same as last_ 1230 

About half is dark flint and the rest a gray sandy marl- 1240 

Same as 1260_ 1250 

Sand, flint, and a little lime and marl; fossil fragments in lime (in small pieces)- 1260 

Same as last_ 1270 

Mostly dark-gray flint_ 1280 

Dark-gray flint with some sandy marl_ 1290 

Dark-gray flint_ 1300 

Soft, gray to bluish, limy marl; no fossil traces retained in sample- 1310 

Same as 1310_ 1320 

Same as last_ 1330 

Same as 1330_ 1340 

Same as last_ 1350 

Dark-green, soft marl, sandy; appears to be mostly glauconite- 1360 

Same as last, a little flint_ 1370 

Same as last_ 1380 

Gray, arenaceous, glauconitic marl; sand fine, mainly quartz; echinoderm spines, 
ostracods, and elongated and coiled types of Crystellaria. Heat gives bituminous 
odor and slight trace of colorless oil_ 1390 

Gray marl similar to 1390. Nodosaria- 1400 

Gray marl like 1400_ 1410 

Gray marl like 1400_ 1420 

Gray marl like 1400, except lighter in color and smaller trace of condensed oil- 1430 

Gray marl like 1400, except lighter in color, less glauconite, no Crystellaria- 1440 

Gray marl similar to 1440. No ostracods. Heat gives bituminous odor but no con¬ 
densation of oil_ 1450 

Greenish gray, pulverulent, glauconitic marl, with about 35% glauconite; grains of 

limestone and quartz_ 1460 

Light-gray, pulverulent, glauconitic marl similar to 1460, except only about 12% 

glauconite _ 1470 

Light-gray, pulverulent, arenaceous marl; about 50% fine quartz sand; limestone 

and some glauconite. Fossils not abundant. Heat gives faint bituminous odor 1480 

Similar to 1480_ 1490 

Similar to 1480, with more glauconite_ 1500 

Light-gray marl; grains of quartz, glauconite, and limestone; some shell fragments. 

Echinoderm spines and Nodosaria abundant. Heat gives faint bituminous odor 1510 

Similar to 1510_ 1520 

Similar to 1510_ 1530 

Gray marl, very little sand; Nodosaria and echinoderm spines. Heat gives bitu¬ 
minous odor and trace of colorless oil_:_ 1540 

Similar to 1540_ 1550 

Similar to 1540_,_ 1560 

Similar to 1560_ 1570 

Similar to 1560_ 1580 

Similar to 1560_ 1590 

Similar to 1560_ 1600 

Similar to 1560_ 1610 

Gray argillaceous marl. No fossils. Heat gives bituminous odor and trace of con¬ 
densation of colorless oil_ 1630 

Similar to 1630_ 1650 

Similar to 1630. Echinoderm spines.._ 1660 

Similar to 1660_ 1670 

Similar to 1660_ 1680 














































DEEP WELL LOGS OF THE COASTAL PLAIN 


97 


Log of oil prospect well at Cherokee Hill, 6 miles northwest of Savannah — con. 

Depth, feet 


Similar to 1660. Small pyrite cubes abundant- 1690 

Gray marl containing pyrites. Very few fossils. Heat gives bituminous odor and 

trace of colorless oil_ 1700 

Similar to 1700_ 1710 

Similar to 1700_ 1720 

Similar to 1700_ 1730 

Similar to 1700_ 1740 

Similar to 1700--—- 1760 

Similar to 1700_ 1780 

Similar to 1700_ 1800 

Similar to 1700_ 1820 

Similar to 1700_ 1840 

Similar to 1700_^_ 1860 

Similar to 1700_ 1880 

Similar to 1700_—_ 1900 

Similar to 1700_ 1920 

Similar to 1700; Belemnitella americana, Ripley_ 1340 

Similar to 1700. Heat gives faint bituminous odor but no condensation of oil- 1950 

Similar to 1950_ 1970 

Similar to 1950_ 1980 

Light-gray sandstone, fine quartz grains cemented firmly by calcium carbonate. No 

fossils _ 2000 

Unconsolidated white sand, similar to 2000 except no cementation. No fossils_ 2010 

Unconsolidated gray sand, mixture of fine quartz sand and fine limestone particles. 

No fossils _ 2020 

Similar to 2020_ 2035 

Gray marl. No fossils. Heat gives bituminous odor and trace of colorless oil_ 2040 

Similar to 2040, except only slight -trace of oil_ 2050 

Similar to 2050_ 2060 

Similar to 2040, except no condensation of oil_2070 

Similar to 2070_ 2090 

Similar to 2040_ 2100 

Similar to 2040_ 2130 


The first 250 feet of strata penetrated doubtless include Pleis¬ 
tocene sands and clays, the Duplin and Marks Head marls, and the 
Alum Bluff formation. That portion of the column from 250 to about 
1000 is thought to represent, in part at least, the Glendon formation 
and the Ocala limestone. A greater part of the column below 1350 
is apparently of Upper Cretaceous age, with definite Ripley shown 
by Belemnitella americana at 1940. The well apparently stops in 
the Ripley formation. Casing was set at 27, 107, 250, 1426, 1630, and 
2126 feet. A little gas was reported at 1000 feet and showing of oil at 
1590, with salt water at 2000. 

Log of oil prospect well at Scotland, Telfair County 

Depth, feet 


Quartz sand and small gravel cemented by yellowish red clay- 0-10 

Quartz sand and gravel- 10-20 

Mixture of sand and very dark brownish-gray clay with small fragments of 

lignite_ 20—30 
































98 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


Log of oil prospect well at Scotland, Telfair County continued- 

Depth, feet 

Quartz sand and fine gravel cemented by yellowish clay- 23-25 

Fine, gray, quartz sand with some rounded fragments of light-colored clay- 25—55 

Similar to above- 55—77 

Similar to above except sand is cemented by drab-colored clay- 75-80 

Very fine quartz sand cemented by pale-yellow clay- 80-100 

Similar to 25-55 feet- 100-138 

Soft, white, chalky limestone locally grading into marl- 138—140 

Fine guartz sand with few black grains and some shell fragments- 138—180 

Gray, porus limestone with shell fragments- 180—185 

Fine, calcareous, quartz sand and shell fragmepts- 185—190 

Pale-yellow, soft, powdered, porous, fossiliferous limestone- 190-350 

Fragments of limestone, flint, and fossils, including orbitoids- 350-400 

Pale-yellow, soft, porous limestone with orbitoids- 400-415 

Yellow, soft, porous limestone consisting largely of small bryozoa- 415-435 

Small yellowish fragments of limestone and shells. Orbitoids and bryozoa 

abundant _ 435-440 

Similar to above but larger fragments- 440—445 

Soft yellow limestone - 440—450 

This well begins in the Alum Bluff formation, which extends to 
about 180 feet. The greater part of the limestone from 180 feet to the 
bottom is of Glendon age, but the upper part may be Chattahoochee. 

Log of oil prospect well at Fredel, 10 miles south of Waycross 

Depth, feet 

Gray quartz sand with fragments of white limestone and clay- 100 

Similar to above, with quartz pebbles- 160 

Similar to 100- 165 

Similar to 160- 225 

Similar to 160- 261—290 

Black, phosphatic, hard sandstone- 290—299 

Mixture of coarse quartz sand pebbles and arenaceous, hard, white limestone 

fragments _ 299—320 

Hard, white, dense limestone_ 325 

Hard, white, fossiliferous, arenaceous limestone, with abundance of shells, 

partly as casts_ 435 

Similar to above- 450 

Dense, hard, yellowish-brown, crystalline limestone, with Crystellaria and 

echinoderm spines- 800 

Similar to above- 820 

White limestone with abundance of Orbitoides-like forms and bryozoa, shell frag¬ 
ments and Crystellaria - 840 

Dense brownish-yellow limestone with small orbitoidal forms and Crystellaria 860 

Dense, yellowish-brown limestone - 932-950 

Light-yellow limestone with orbitoidal forms, Crystellaria, and echinoderm spines 1120 

Dense brownish-yellow limestone with coiled foraminifera resembling Crystellaria 1153 

Similar to 1120_ 1314-1337 

Similar to 1120, with abundance of orbitoidal forms and Crystellaria_ 1330—1340 

Similar to above except no orbitoids- 1351—1357 

Similar to 1120, with bryozoa- 1357-1363 

Similar to above- 1363—1369 

Similar to above- 1369—1382 

Gray limestone with orbitoids, bryozoa, Crystellaria, and flint and shell 

fragments _ 1382—1390 







































DEEP WELL LOGS OF THE COASTAL PLAIN 99 

Log of oil prospect well at Fredel, 10 miles south of Waycross — continued. 

Depth, feet 

Soft white limestone with bryozoa, Crystellaria, orbitoids, and echinoderm spines 1390—1396 

Same as above_ 1396—1401 

Same as above_ 1401—1408 

Same as above_ 1408-1423 

Pale-yellow limestone with bryozoa, echinoderm spines, Crystellaria, and shell 

fragments _ 1423-1430 

Same as above___ 1440—1452 

Soft white limestone with abundance of foraminifera, including orbitoids and 

Crystellaria, echinoderm spines_ 1452—1460 

Same as above_ 1467-1475 

Same as above, with bryozoa_ 1475—1482 

Same as above, with bryozoa- 1482—1487 

Same as above, without bryozoa_ 1487—1495 

Same as above, without bryozoa- 1495—1501 

Yellow limestone with indistinct foraminifera- 1501—1512 

Soft white limestone with orbitoids, Crystellaria, and similar coiled forms- 1512—1521 

Similar to above- r - 1521—1538 

Similar to above_ 1546—1552 

Similar to above_ 1552—1565 

Similar to above- 1565—1582 

Similar to above_ 1582—1595 

Similar to above- 1595—1600 

Similar to above_ 1600—1607 

Similar to above_ 1607—1613 

Similar to above_ 1613—1616 

Similar to above_ 1624-1630 

Similar to above_ 1630—1635 

Similar to above_ 1635—1641 

Similar to above- 1641-1656 

Similar to above_ 1656—1660 

Similar to above, except no orbitoids_ 1660—1665 

Soft, white, chalky limestone with some indistinct organic forms_ 1665—1672 

Similar to above, with numerous Crystellaria-like forms_ 1672—1680 

Soft, white limestone with foraminifera, including Crystellaria and echinoderm 

spines - 1680-1691 

Similar to above_ 1691—1700 

Similar to above_ 1700—1706 

Similar to above with shell fragments_ 1706—1711 

Similar to above-1711—1718 

Similar to above with orbitoids_ 1718—1725 

Similar to above with orbitoids- 1725—1730 

Similar to above with orbitoids in abundance_ 1730—1735 

Similar to above with orbitoids in abundance- 1735—1748 

Similar to above with orbitoids in abundance- 1748—1760 

Similar to above with orbitoids in abundance_1760—1773 

Similar to above with orbitoids in abundance_ 1773—1782 

Similar to above with orbitoids in abundance_ 1782—1790 

Similar to above with orbitoids in abundance_ 1790—1800 

Similar to above with shell fragments and bryozoa_ 1800—1810 

Similar to above_ 1810—1818 

Similar to above with glauconite- 1818-1825 

Similar to above with glauconite and flint- 1840-1845 

Soft white limestone with flint, shell fragments, and indistinct organic forms_ 1846—1852 

Soft chalky limestone with flint, orbitoids, Crystellaria, and echinoderm spines 1852—1859 

Similar to above _ 1859-1865 

Similar to above- 1865—1869 

Similar to above with more flint_ 1869—1873 

Similar to above_ 1873—1876 

Similar to above_ 1880—1886 






















































100 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


Log of oil prospect well at Fredel, 10 miles south of Way Gross — continued. 


Gray, slightly argillaceous limestone with organisms above, and some flint- 

Similar to above with very little flint_ 

Similar to above with very little flint_ 

Similar to above with very little flint_ 

Similar to above with very little flint_ 

Similar to above with yellow, flinty- 

Similar to above_ 

Similar to above_ 


Pale-yellow and gray limestone with orbitoids, Crystellaria, and echinoderm 

spines _ 

Similar to above except lighter in color_ 

Similar to above except lighter in color__ 

Similar to above except few orbitoids only_„_ 

Similar to above except few orbitoids only_ 

Similar, except abundance of echinoderm stems and bryozoa_ 

Similar to above_ 


Pale-yellow limestone with abundance of foraminifera, including Crystellaria, 

bryozoa, and echinoderm spines_ 

Same as above_ 


Pale-yellow limestone with Crystellaria, bryozoa, orbitoids, Nodosaria, and other 

coiled foraminifera ___ 

Similar, except no Nodosaria_ 

Similar, except no Nodosaria_ 

Similar, except no Nodosaria_ 

Similar, with Nodosaria_ 

Similar, with Nodosaria_ 

Similar, with Nodosaria and sponge spicules_ 

Similar, with Nodosaria and abundant bryozoa_ 

Similar, with Nodosaria and abundant bryozoa_ 

Similar, with Nodosaria and abundant bryozoa_ 

Similar, with Nodosaria and abundant bryozoa_ 

Similar, with Nodosaria and abundant bryozoa_ 

Similar, with Nodosaria and abundant bryozoa_ 

Similar, with Nodosaria and abundant bryozoa_ 

Similar, with Nodosaria and abundant bryozoa_ 

lellow limestone with abundance of echinoderm spines and Nodosaria_ 

Gray soft limestone, with orbitoids, bryozoa, and echinoderm spines in abund¬ 
ance ; some clay present _ 


Similar, with some glauconite, Nodosaria, and white limestone fragments_ 

Gray limestone with glauconite, bryozoa, echinoderm spines, and Nodosaria_ 

Gray marl with glauconite, Nodosaria, Crystellaria, and other organic forms— 
Gray calcareous sand with shell fragments, shark’s teeth, and glauconite. 

Heat test gives distinct odor of oil but no condensation___ 

Similar to above___ 

Pine, gray, calcareous, quartz sand with shark’s teeth, shall fragments^ glau^ 

conite, echinoderm spines, and Nodosaria___ 

Gray, fine-grained, calcareous quartz sand___ 

Similar to above with shell fragments_ 

Similar to above with shell fragments_ 

Giay, slightly calcareous, quartz sand with limonitic stains, probably from bit 
fragments _ 

Similar to above with echinoderm spines_ 

Similar to above with echinoderm spines_ 

Similar to above with glauconite and Crystellaria-like forms. Somewhat less 

sand than above. Contains traces of oil_ 

Similar to above_ 

Fine gray, calcareous quartz sand with echinoderm spines, ostracods, and 
Crystellaria. Contains traces of oil_ 

Similar to above with Nodosaria. Traces of oil_ 


Depth, feet 
1886-1891 
1891-1900 
1900-1906 
1906-1912 
1912-1919 
1919-1925 
1925-1931 
1931-1938 

1938-1944 

1944-1950 

1955-1961 

1961-1965 

1965-1971 

1971-1979 

1979-1985 

1985-1990 

1995-2000 

2000-2009 

2009-2017 

2017-2026 

2026-2040 

2040-2046 

2046-2058 

2055-2063 

2063-2076 

2071-2081 

2081-2091 

2091-2098 

2098-2107 

2107-2115 

2115-2122 

2122-2130 

2130-2134 

2135-2140 

2140-2145 

2145-2153 

2153-2160 

2287-2290 

2290-2295 


2377-2370 

2450-2462 

2471-2490 

2496-2510 


2505-2550 

2550-2560 

2660-2674 

2705-2714 

2714-2723 

2830-2834 

2834-2870 
















































DEEP IF ELL LOGS OF THE COASTAL PLAIN 


101 


Log of oil prospect well at Fredel, 10 miles south of IFaycross — continued. 


Fine, gray, calcareous, quartz sand with Nodosaria, eehinoderm spines, and 

glauconite. Traces of oil_ 2870—2900 

Similar to above. Traces of oil_ _ _ 2900—2910 

Similar to above. Very slight trace of oil_ 2916-2940 

Very fine-grained argillaceous quartz sand with glauconite; some coiled and 

some pear-shaped fossil forms. Slight trace of oil_ 2940-2952 

Similar to above. Traces of oil_„_ 2952—2998 

Similar to above. Very slight traces of oil_ 3000 

Dark-gray marl with very little fine-grained quartz sand; pyrite crystals and 

eehinoderm spines. Slight trace of bituminous matter but no free oil_ 3022 


That part of the column from the surface down to 435 feet seems 
to include the Miocene and later formations. The material at 435 is 
of Chattahoochee age. From 800 to 2100 the beds probably repre¬ 
sent the Glendon and the Ocala, but thickness seems excessive for 
these formations. There is nothing to show that the Cretaceous is 
reached, thus indicating an excessive thickness of Eocene and Oligo- 
cene. It is difficult to understand the apparent thickness of for¬ 
mations encountered in this w’ell. Casing was set at 332, 436, 1306, 
and 2176 feet. A showing of oil and gas was reported at 1060 and 
salt "water from 2000 to the bottom. 

Log of oil prospect well near Doctortown, Wayne County 


Thickness, feet Depth, feet 


Sand _ 

Sand and yellow clay with some shells_ 

Sand and laminated clay_ 

Conglomerate and marl. Water rises to within 20 feet of the 

surface_ 

Sand, gravel, and laminated clay--- 

Greenish-gray marl and chalky limestone with some pebbles- 

Quicksand and marl_ 

Layers of hard rock, marl, and conglomerate- 

Marl with sandstone layers and some limestone_ 

Quicksand with layers of conglomerate- 

Soft limestone and sandstone with flint layers 2 feet thick_ 

Quicksand _ 

Marl and soft limestone _._ 

Quicksand containing a large supply of water- 

Quicksand _ 

Soft limestone - 

Hard limestone with layers of sand- 

Water-bearing limestone; quicksand at 793 feet- 

Gray limestone and brown sandstone- 

Sandstone _ 

Limestone _ 

Soft limestone _ 


20 

35 

25 

15 

40 

50 

45 

25 

40 

30 

28 

40 

15 

7 

50 

2 

44 
318 

20 

45 
35 
10 


20 

55 

80 

95 

135 

185 

230 

255 

295 

325 

353 

393 

408 

415 

465 

467 

511 

829 

849 

894 

929 

939 





























102 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


Log of oil prospect well near Doctortown, Wayne County — -continued. 


Salt water and sand_ 

Hard limestone _ 

Limestone in hard and soft layers 

Limestone with some sand_ 

Limestone _ 

Limestone with two shell layers . 

Limestone with hard layers _ 

Limestone, very hard_ 

Limestone and sand _ 

Limestone, mostly hard_ 

Limestone _ 

Hard limestone _ 

Soft limestone _ 

Hard limestone_ 

Soft limestone _ 

Gray and brown sands- 

Dark-brown sand _ 

Sand mixed with pebbles_ 

Light-colored sand _ 

Glauconitic sand _ 


Thickness 

16.5 

10.5 
22 
17 

14 

17 

15 
13 

6 

134 

18 
33 
59 
18 

138 
170 

84 

26 

12 

139 


Depth, feet 
955.5 
966 
988 
1005 
1019 
1036 
1051 
1064 
1070 
1204 
1222 
1255 
1314 
1332 
1470 
1640 
1724 
1750 
1762 
1901 


That portion of the column from the surface to 465 seems to rep¬ 
resent the Miocene and later formations. The main body of limestone 
from 465 to 1470 is apparently of Eocene, Oligocene and possibly 
basal Miocene age. The bottom of the well is probably in the Eocene. 
Casing was set at 460, 540 and 1900 feet. 

Log of oil prospect well of Middle Georgia Oil and Gas Company, 12 miles west 

of Hazelhurst, Jeff Davis County 


Mixture of quartz sand and yellowish clay_ 

Fine-grained quartz sand with some clay_ 

White, thinly laminated, arenaceous, micaceous clay_ 

Fine quartz sand, loosely cemented by yellowish clay resembling fullers earth 

Similar to 65 _ 

Similar to 65, except more clay_ 

Similar to above_ 

Similar to 65 _ 

Similar to 100_ 

Similar to 100_ 

Similar to 65- 

Gray ai’enaceous clay resembling fullers earth_ 

Similar to 65-- 

Similar to 65, with some gravel- 

Fine quartz sand and buff clay- 

Similar to 140-165___ 

Similar to 65_ 

Similar to 140-165_ 

Similar to 182-185_ 

Similar to 182-185_ 

Similar to 140-165- 


Depth, feet 
0-40 
50 
60 
65 
75 
85 
100 
110 
115 
120 
135-140 
140-165 
165-175 
175-182 
182-185 
185-215 
215-220 
220-225 
225-236 
228-235 
236-250 










































DEEP WELL LOGS OF THE COASTAL PLAIN 


103 


Log of oil prospect well of Middle Georgia Oil and Gas Company, 12 
of Hazelhurst, Jeff Davis County — continued. 

Quartz sand and gravel with phosphate pebbles and limestone fragments, 
cemented by calcareous binder. Nodosaria_ 

Fine-grained quartz sand and phosphate pebbles cemented by gray, slightly 

calcareous clay _ 

Similar to 293-298, with more sand_ 

Fine quartz sand with phosphate pebbles, loosely cemented by buff clay_ 

Buff clay with phosphatic sand_ 

Phosphatic sand _ 

Fine-grained phosphatic sand, with clay fragments, pieces of shells, and cal¬ 
careous material _ 

Similar to 322-332_ 

Dark-gray calcareous clay, with shell fragments and phosphatic sand. Heat test 

shows odor of petroleum and trace of colorless oil_ 

Phosphatic quartz sand _ 

Similar to above, except some clay and calcareous material present_ 

Soft, irregularly bedded buff-colored limestone with phosphatic sand and clay. 

Heat test gives petroleum odor and trace of oil_ 

Similar to above_ 

Shell and clay fragments, with phosphatic quartz sand cemented by calcareous 

binder _j_ 

Similar to 306-309_._ 

Fine-grained quartz sand, with small fragments of shells, limestone, and flint_ 

Fragments of shell, flint, and limestone, and phosphatic pebbles, together with 

fine, calcareous, quartz sand_ 

Dark-gray calcareous clay with shell and lime fragments and some quartz sand. 

Numerous foraminifera, including Crystellaria___ 

Hard, gray, calcareous sandstone and oyster shells_ 

Soft, white limestone with fragments of shells and phosphatic quartz sand_ 

Very dark-gray, slightly calcareous clay with small fragments of shells and some 

quartz sand _ 

Light-gray quartz sand with a few shell fragments_ 

Shell and limestone fragments and quartz sand cemented by calcareous binder; 

also dark-gray calcareous clay with shell fragments_ 

Shell and limestone fragments and quartz sand loosely cemented by calcareous 

binder _ 

Dark-gray, slightly calcareous, arenaceous clay with shell fragments; also fine 

quartz sand loosely cemented with clay- 

Quartz sand shell fragments, small pieces of limestone, and dark clay- 

Similar to above--- 

Gray calcareous clay with fragments of shell and limestone_ 

Fine quartz sand with some gray clay- 

Similar to above- 

Dark-Gray, slightly calcareous clay -with fine quartz sand_ 

Similar to above_ 

Similar to above- 

Similar to above- 

Similar to above_ 

Fine quartz sand and calcareous gray clay. Echinoderm spines abundant_ 

Soft, light-buff, arenaceous limestone; echinoderm spines and Crystellaria- 

Similar to above-- 

Soft, pure limestone; echinoderm spines and Crystellaria- 

Limestone with orbitoids, ostracods, and other indistinct foraminifera_ 

Similar to above_ 

Similar to above--- 

Dark-gray clay containing sand, limestone fragments, and fossils similar to 

above _ 

Light-yellow, soft, pure limestone with fossils similar to above_ 

Similar to above- 

Soft white limestone with echinoderm spines, Crystellaria, and other indistinct 
fossils ___ 


miles west 

Depth, feet 

278-282 

293-298 

298-306 

306-309 

309-315 

319-322 

322-332 

332-338 

338-340 

340-342 

342-346 

355-366 

366-386 

386-400 

400-405 

405-407 

407-409 

409-465 

460 

460-480 

480-487 

487-503 

503-520 

520-530 

530-550 

565-580 

585-590 

590-600 

600-620 

610-615 

620-630 

630-645 

645-650 

650-665 

665-675 

685-690 

690-700 

700-730 

730-740 

740-745 

745-755 

755-765 

765-780 

780-785 

790-800 

800-825 












































104 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


Log of oil prospect well of Middle Georgia Oil and Gas Company, 12 miles west 
of Hazelhurst, Jeff Davis County — continued. 

Depth, feet 

Soft, white, pure limestone with Nodosaria and other small indistinct forms— 825—830 

Similar to above_ 830—850 

Pale-yellow pure limestone with echinoderm spines, orbitoids, and other indis¬ 
tinct forms _ 850—853 

Soft, white, pure limestone; echinoderm spines, orbitoids, indistinct bryozoa, 

and other forms_ 853—864 

Similar to above, orbitoids abundant_ 864-870 

Light-yellow limestone; orbitoids, bryozoa and other indistinct forms- 870—875 

Soft, white, pure limestone; echinoderm spines and orbitoids abundant- 885—910 

Similar to above_ 910—920 

Similar to above with gray clay- 920—940 

Similar to 885-910_ 940-950 

Similar to above_ 950—955 

Soft, pure, white limestone with abundant orbitoids_ 955—970 

Similar to above_ 970—980 

Soft, white, pure limestone; echinoderm spines and other indistinct fossils- 980—985 

Similar to above, except yellow in color_ 985—990 

Soft, white, pure limestone; echinoderm spines and orbitoids abundant- 990—1000 

Similar to above, with some gray clay_ 1000—1010 

Similar to above_ 1010—1020 

Soft, pure, white limestone with abundance of orbitoids_ 1020—1027 

Similar to above_ 1050—1060 

White, pure limestone with abundance of Orbitoids and some echinoderm spines 1060—1070 

Similar to above_ 1070—1080 

Light-gray limestone; orbitoids and echinoderm spines in abundance, with a 

few bryozoa _ 1080—1090 

Soft, white, pure limestone with fossils similar to above- 1090—1100 

Similar to above_ 1100—1105 

White to light-gray limestone fragments with fossils similar to above and some 

quartz sand _ 1105—1115 

Hard, gray, glauconitic sandstone, locally calcareous_ 1115—1120 

Uncemented sand similar to above_ 1115—1130 

Similar to above_ 1130—1150 

Calcareous glauconitic quartz sand_ 1150—1160 

Similar to above_ 1160—1170 

Similar to above_ 1180-1190 

Similar to above with less glauconite_ 1190—1200 

White quartz sand_ 1200-1203 

Glauconite quartz sand_ 1203—1210 

Light-gray, fine-grained quartz sand- 1210—1220 

Similar to above with small amount of gray clay_ 1220—1230 

Glauconitic quartz sand_ 1230—1240 

Mixture of fine-grained quartz sand and calcareous gray clay_ 1240—1251 

Dark-gray arenaceous marl_ 1255—1257 

Similar to above_ 1255—1300 

Large Ostrea sp _ 1300 

Similar to 1255-1300_ 1300-1320 

Similar to above_ 1320—1330 

Similar to above_ 1330—1345 

Mixture of fragments of light-gray limestone and gray arenaceous marl_ 1345—1350 

Similar to above--- 1350—1360 

Gray, slightly argillaceous limestone with fragments of echinoderm spines and 

gastropods - 1360—1370 

Echinoderms and pelecyopods thought to be Cretaceous_ 1370—1375 

Similar to above- 1380—1390 

Light-gray quartz sand with small fragments of limestone and marl_ 1390—1395 

















































DEEP fFELL LOGS • OF THE COASTAL PLAIN 


105 


Log of oil prospect well of Middle Georgia Oil and Gas Company, 12 miles west 
of Uazelhurst, Jeff Davis County — continued. 

Depth, feet 

Mixture of quartz sand, limestone fragments, and marl, with small fragments 

of fossils_ 1395-1400 

Similar to above, with flint fragments_ 1411—1424 

Lignite and very dark-gray clay_'___ 1425 

Very dark-gray clay. Heat test gives odor of petroleum and trace of oil_ 1425-1428 

Gray clay sand and oyster shells_ 1428—1432 

White quartz sand with fragments of limestone marl and shells_ 1435—1445 

Similar to above _ 1446-1448 

Quartz sand, sandstone, and shell fragments, mainly oysters_ 1448—1453 

Similar to above_ _ 1453—1460 

Similar to above_ 1465—1470 

Similar to above_,_ 1470-1485 

Very dark-gray, arenaceous marl, with small fragments of limestone. Heat 

gives odor of petroleum and trace of oil_ 1485—1510 

Similar to 1435-1445 _ 1510-1535 

Dark-gray, fine grained, calcareous, argillaceous sandstone_ 1535-1540 

Similar to above, with fossil plant thought to be Halymenites major, 

(Cretaceous)_ 1550 

Similar to 1435-1445 _ 1545-1560 

Similar to 1435-1445 _ 1560-1570 

Similar to 1435-1445 _ 1580-1590 

Similar to 1535-1540_ 1600-1607 

Similar to 1535-1540_ 1607-1610 

Similar to above, with more clay and few shell fragments_ 1615—1620 

Similar to above_ 1620—1630 

Arenaceous dark-gray marl, with few shell fragments_ 1630—1640 

Similar to above_ 1640—1660 

Similar to above_ 1660—1670 

Similar to above but darker in color_ 1670—1695 

Similar to 1535-1540_ 1690-1700 

Concretionary quartzitic sandstone and siliceous limestone; young Exogyra 

(Cretaceous) _ 1700—1735 

Dark-gray, very arenaceous marl. Heat test gives odor of petroleum and 

trace of oil_ 1735 

Similar to above_ 1780—1800 

Similar to above_ 1800—1805 

Similar to above_ 1805—1815 

Similar to above_ 1815—1825 

Similar to above_ 1830—1975 

The formation penetrated is probably Alum Bluff, down to about 
690 feet although the thickness seems excessive for this formation, 
and the lower part of this 690 feet may correspond to the Chatta¬ 
hoochee limestone of other areas, as the exact relation between the Chat¬ 
tahoochee limestone and basal Alum Bluff is not understood. The lime¬ 
stones from 690 to 1115 are thought to include the Glendon and Ocala 
formations. The cuttings from 1370-1375, 1550 and 1700-1735 seem 
definitely Upper Cretaceous in age. The Ripley apparently begins 
at about 1300, and the bottom of the well is probably in the lower 
part of the Ripley. 




































106 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


SUMMARY 

Examination of the deep well logs of the Coastal Plain reveals a 
moderately uniform lithologic sequence in the formations penetrated 
throughout the province as a whole. There is reasonable evidence 
showing the lower part of the Ripley, or approximately the top of 
the Eutaw, as the lowest horizon reached, except in those wells close 
to the Fall line. 

Following is a generalized columnar section representative of 
the Coastal Plain as a whole, exclusive of areas along its northern and 
western edges. The thicknesses given are in part estimates only, 
and not observed thicknesses. In general the formations thicken 
tow T ard Brunswick, which is shown to be in a structural trough. 

Generalized Columnar Section of the Coastal Plain of Georgia 


Formation 

Thickness (Feet) 

Character of beds 

Alum Bluff 

0 to 350 

Sand and clay, with basal limestone and 
flint lenses. 

Chattahoochee 

Glen don 

Ocala 

0 to 1300 

White to yellow, fossillferous, soft lime¬ 
stone, with local flint layers. 

Claiborne 

Wilcox 

Midway 

0 to 400 

Sand, clay, and marl, with lenses of lime¬ 
stone. 

Ripley / Undif. 
Eutaw / Upper Cret. 

Lower (?) Cretaceous 

0 to 2000 

Gray, arenaceous marl and fine sand, with 
basal members of gravel, cross-bedded 
arkosic sand, and clay lenses. 

Crystalline 


• 




















STRUCTURAL CONDITIONS IN THE COASTAL PLAIN 


107 


STRUCTURAL CONDITIONS IN 
THE COASTAL PLAIN OF GEORGIA 

METHODS EMPLOYED IN DETERMINING STRUCTURES 

The Coastal Plain of Georgia has been more or less arbitrarily di 
vided into three structural areas or subdivisions, for the purpose of 
more readily handling ,the structural data. These areas are here termed 
areas No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3. Area No. 1 approximately coincides 
with the physiographic subdivision of the Coastal Plain known as the 
Fall-line hills belt. Area No. 2 is approximately coincident with the 
Dougherty plain. Area No. 3 embraces the Altamaha upland, the 
Southern lime-sink region, the Okefenokee plain, and the Satilla coast¬ 
al lowland. (See map II.) 

In areas Nos. 1 and 2 the methods of determining the structural 
conditions are based primarily on a study of the general areal ge¬ 
ology and topography taken jointly. Stream data, direction and 
elevations are likewise used. Other factors of lesser importance have 
been used wherever applicable. It is desirable to discuss area No. 2 
separately because the distribution of formations, as shown on the 
geologic map, suggests folding, whereas it can be shown that the dis¬ 
tribution is due to a combination of lithology and topography, and 
not to abnormal structure. 

The work in area No. 3 involved methods not applicable to the 
other two areas. In this area the interpretation of structure is based on 
data collected from well logs and outcrops, general geology and to¬ 
pography, drainage conditions, and underground water conditions. 

A separate discussion of each area follows: 

STRUCTURAL AREA No. 1 

Structural area No. 1 comprises a belt, approximately 40 miles 
wide, lying immediately south of the Fall line and extending en¬ 
tirely across the State from Augusta to Columbus. Throughout 
this area the thickness of sediments overlying the crystalline rocks 


108 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


varies from zero at the Fall line to about 1500 feet along its south¬ 
ern edge. As the sediments in the northern part of the area are very 
thin and contain no oil or oil-forming matter in quantity, this part of 
the area can be eliminated at once from consideration as a possible 
source of production. Since the beds are lenticular and unconsolidated 
the determination of structural details is very difficult. The beds, 
as previously described, are mainly arkosic, micaceous, cross-bed¬ 
ded sands, and clays, with commercial deposits of kaolin and gravel, 
all free from matter capable of forming oil. 

Rapid lateral variation and the general unconsolidated nature 
of the deposits would generally prevent the detailed determination 
of structural conditions, and even if such were possible they would 
be unwarranted by the close proximity of the area to the Fall line. 






























STRUCTURAL CONDITIONS IN THE COASTAL PLAIN 


109 


Throughout the southern part of this structural area the sediments 
are rather thin, but not so thin as to condemn entirely the area with 
reference to possible oil production. The presence of numerous 
streams flowing southeastward across the belt furnish excellent geo¬ 
logic and topographic data which show that the regional dip is south¬ 
eastward. The older beds disappear regularly below water and fail 
to reappear farther downstream. The monoclinal southeast dip shown 
in Map III is also indicated by artesian water conditions. 

Detailed work has been done in some areas and some small in¬ 
terruptions in the monoclinal attitude have been observed, as near 
Green’s Cut, in Burke County. It is probable that the uneven 
settling of unconsolidated sediments on the irregular surface of the 
crystaline floor, close beneath, might cause folding without dynamic 
movement. Sufficient work over area No. 1 has been done to show 
the absence of folding of magnitude. 

STRUCTURAL AREA No. 2 

The regional structural conditions of area No. 2 may be generally de¬ 
scribed as monoclinal with a dip to the southeast. The lack of satis¬ 
factory key horizons—because of similarity of strata, rapid lateral 
variation, numerous unconformities, slumping, and the general uncon¬ 
solidated nature of most of the exposed beds,—prohibits the determi¬ 
nation of local structural details throughout the area. The general at¬ 
titude of the formations, however, is revealed by areal geology, to¬ 
pography, static head of ground water, and the attitude of a few recog¬ 
nizable broad horizons in the geologic column. 

The Glendon formation unconformably overlies the Ocala lime¬ 
stone along Flint River all the way from Faceville, in Decatur 
County, to a point about 10 miles south of Oglethorpe. Throughout 
this distance the contact is practically parallel to water level. The 
Ocala disappears below water near Faceville and does not reappear 
down stream. Thus there is evidently an absence of post-Glendon 
folds of any consequence crossing the Flint between a point 12 miles 
south of Oglethorpe, over a straight-line distance of about 110 miles. 


110 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


Also, the regular manner in which the Ocala along the general line 
of the Flint disappears beneath the Glendon and fails to reappear 
southeastward points to a similar regular monoclinal attitude through¬ 
out the Glendon outcrop over the Flint River belt lying generally just 
east of the river. And too, the regularity of static head of ground 
water, as indicated by flowing wells, tends to confirm the monoclinal 
attitude of the beds. 

Throughout the irregular Glendon belt extending from Cordele to 
Fort Gaines, the fact that the underlying Claiborne and Ocala are 
exposed only along the main water courses points to a normal mono¬ 
clinal attitude of the beds dipping gently southeastward. Artesian 
conditions tend to confirm this attitude over the southeastern por¬ 
tion of this area. 

The area of Ocala outcrop, roughly including a large part of 
Seminole, Early, Miller, Baker, Calhoun, Dougherty, and Lee coun¬ 
ties, and bordered on both the northwest and southeast by Glendon 
areas, might, on casual inspection of the areal distribution of form¬ 
ations, be considered indicative of a closed regional uplift exposing 
an older formation with, younger beds on each side. Examination 
of the topography of the area shown on map III, however, shows that 
the feature is topographic only and not structural, the Glendon simply 
having been eroded from above the Ocala, exposing the latter at its 
normal elevation. The regular disappearance of the older formations 
along the Chattahoochee River beneath the younger formations as 
we pass down stream, together with the regular artesian water condi¬ 
tions along the main streams, similarly indicate a normal regional 
dip to the southeast. Failure of Claiborne beds to appear at the sur¬ 
face throughout this Ocala area furnish additional evidence that the 
beds are monoclinal. This evidence is more weighty in the north¬ 
western part of the area, wdiere the Ocala is thin, than throughout 
the southeast part, where greater movement would be required to ex¬ 
pose the Claiborne. 

Throughout the portion of area No. 2 east of the Flint River the 


STRUCTURAL CONDITIONS IN THE COASTAL PLAIN 


111 


topography, areal geology, and artesian water all indicate the normal 
monoclinal attitude of beds dipping southeastward. 

Altitudes of the bottom of the Glendon, taken at a number of 
points, indicate a general southeastward dip of about 8 feet per mile. 

Stream data throughout area No. 2 have been regarded as prob¬ 
ably indicative of a regional anticline with axis along the Chatta¬ 
hoochee River, but with the evidence now available no such struct¬ 
ural feature is thought to exist. Some gentle regional Pleistocene or 
later movement is shown by the terraced river valley, and some slight 
irregularity of dip is observed, as at a point on the river opposite 
Gordon, Alabama, where there is a slight local reversal of dip up¬ 
stream, but no folding of magnitude is indicated, and there seems 
no evidence of a western reversal of the regional monoclinal dip¬ 
ping to the southeast. 

The Flint river is apparently confined to its present course by 
the Alum Bluff escarpment on the east, shown by the topographic 
map. The tributaries of the Flint entering from the east flow 
up regional dip and drain only the steep western slope of the escarp¬ 
ment, and consequently are very short. The western tributaries of 
the Flint flow down regional dip, but the eastern Chattahoochee trib¬ 
utaries north of the mouth of the Flint have an appreciable com¬ 
ponent in direction away from regional southeast dip. Thus it is 
quite natural that the eastern Chattahoochee tributaries, similar to 
the eastern Flint tributaries, should be shorter than the western trib¬ 
utaries of the Flint. 

It is likewise normal that topographic elevations along the crest 
of the Alum Bluff escarpment should be higher than the south and 
central portions of the Dougherty plain on the west, where ero¬ 
sion, assisted by solution and weathering of limestone, has removed 
the younger formations, thereby greatly lowering the surface el¬ 
evation. 


112 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


STRUCTURAL AREA No. 3 

The structural area or unit designated area No. 3 includes the 
physiographic subdivisions of the Coastal Plain of Georgia known 
as the Altamaha upland, the Southern lime-sink region, the Oke- 
fenokee plain, and the Satilla coastal lowland. This area is by far 
the largest of the three structural areas, and includes approximately 
two-thirds of the Coastal Plain. 

Throughout practically the whole of area No. 3 the surface out¬ 
crops are of the Alum Bluff, Charlton, Okefenokee, and Satilla form¬ 
ations. Along the inland limits of the area, and in the south-central 
and southwestern corner of the State, older formations are exposed. 
It thus develops that over the greater part of the area the only out¬ 
crops that can be used for determining structural conditions belong 
to the formations above enumerated. 

Because the Charlton, Okefenokee, and Satilla formations are un¬ 
consolidated, occupy small areas, and are superficial, they are unfit 
for determining existing structural conditions. 

The Alum Bluff formation on first examination might appear to 
furnish outcrops upon which structural data might be collected. 
Over large areas the upper portion of the Alum Bluff consists of 
very locally indurated beds of sand and clay. Attempts have been 
made to use such outcrops, but a careful study of them has revealed 
their unsuitability for key rocks. Where good exposures of the in¬ 
durated upper portion of the formation can be studied along many 
of the larger streams, the beds change laterally in lithologic character 
very rapidly, and nowhere do either the indurated sands or clavs 
represent continuous beds, nor are they, therefore, of value as definite 
horizon markers. Added to this is the fact that the indurated parts 
nearly always represent the higher topographic areas. They are 
higher because they are hard and weather less rapidly than softer 
beds. From all the data available the writers are therefore con¬ 
vinced that these resistant portions have been indurated subsequent 
to deposition, and do not represent any definite horizon or bed which 


STRUCTURAL CONDITIONS IN THE COASTAL PLAIN 


113 


can be used for determining existing structural conditions. More- 
ever, at no point within the Alum Bluff formation do any definite 
horizons appear, either as outcrops or from well logs, that can be 
definitely recognized and correlated from point to point. 

In view of the above facts the writers have selected as a key a 
horizon near the base of the Alum Bluff formation, which may be 
defined as the base of the widespread greenish to bluish clay, com¬ 
monly termed blue marl by drillers of the area. The base of this blue 
marl may not mark the exact base of the Alum Bluff, but from all 
available data it does apparently represent the beginning of a wide¬ 
spread and uniform condition of deposition over practically the whole 
of the area, and thus appears to represent a trustworthy basis for de¬ 
termining regional structural conditions. Moreover, this blue marl 
nearly everywhere rests upon calcareous deposits of a decidedly dif¬ 
ferent lithologic character, its base thereby being readily recognized 
in wells and at the exposed contacts along the inland and south¬ 
western limits of the area. 

At or near the northern, western, and southwestern limits of the 
Alum Bluff area numerous exposures of the key bed have been ex¬ 
amined, and throughout the remainder of the area approximately 
500 well logs have been collected from various sources. Of the surface 
exposures 24 of the best were selected for use. In places several ex¬ 
posures are close together, and in such cases, where the data were in 
close agreement, only one exposure is listed. The well logs were 
very carefully studied and the value of each weighed on the basis of 
the character of the log, whether oral or written, and as to the gen¬ 
eral reliability of its source. Only the best logs were selected. So 
many of the well data from neighboring wells were found to be in 
such close agreement that composite logs for the immediate region 
are set forth, rather than giving many logs for a small area. The 
composite records for areas are thus listed in this bulletin as single 
logs. On the basis of these composite data taken as single units, to 
gether with the individual logs finally selected, 54 well logs are given 


114 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


for this area. This number undoubtedly appears to be small, buti con¬ 
sidered from the point of their careful selection, their general re¬ 
liability, the composite logs, and numerous other logs which are in 
good agreement but which are not published, the writers feel that 
the number thus presented is sufficient to show the regional structure 
of the area. At no place in area No. 3 are the available well data 
sufficient to permit local structural details to be accurately deter¬ 
mined. 

The method for ascertaining the structural determination was to 
locate at each well and at each outcrop the altitude of the 
key horizon as accurately as possible with respect to sea level. For 
the outcrops this w r as done by taking their altitudes. For the wells 
the surface elevation of the well was recorded and this figure, in con¬ 
junction with the depth to the key horizon, gave the relation of the 
key to sea level. Points of equal altitude were then connected by 
structure contour lines at intervals of 100 feet. In one case only 
was a fifty foot interval used, and that was for the reason that the 
data were such as to warrant the drawing of a 150 foot contour 
in order to better illustrate structural conditions. (See Map III.) 
In some cases all the available data were so meagre that the struct¬ 
ure contours had to be drawn on the basis of interpolation be¬ 
tween somewhat widely separated points. It is believed, however, 
that the limit of error is not so great as might at first appear. 

The structure contour lines show that for the greater part of area 
No. 3 there is a general monoclinal dip of the key horizon, the dips 
being south, southeast, east, and northeast, thus forming nearly 
half of a broad, gentle circular structural basin whose general center 
appears to be in the Brunswick area. The term circular is used only 
to express the curvature of the structural lines, as no closure is known 
to exist east of the coast line. 

In this segment of structural basin the greatest irregularity in the 
structure contours appears in the region roughly outlined by a line 
drawn through the towns of Douglas, Broxton, Osierfield, and Ocilla, 


ELEVATIONS IN COASTAL PLAIN 


115 


and may indicate local structural high. Detailed data to confirm this 
are lacking. 

In the southwestern part of area No. 3 the structure contour lines 
show a departure from their general direction over the rest of the area, 
and in Grady, Thomas, Colquitt, Brooks, Cook, Lowndes, and Echols 
counties they show a change in structural conditions. By the direc¬ 
tion of the contours a gentle southward-plunging structural arching 
is shown. This arch has a south—southeast direction and its approx¬ 
imate axis extends roughly from the Florida State line through the 
towns of Metcalf and Thomasville towards Camilla. 

Extending from Valdosta east and southeast through the area 
between Statenville and Thelma is apparently a structural crest, the 
key horizon dipping northeast and southwest from it. Between this 
crest and the arch to the west there is a gentle syncline. Both this 
syncline and the arch to the west of it, as well as the crest itself, may 
be a reflection from the known structural high of the Live Oak, 
Florida, region. 

ELEVATIONS 

On the following pages is given a list of the elevations used for 
determining the location of the structural contour lines as drawn on 
Map III. These elevations include those determined from surface 
exposures and from well logs. 

CONTACT OUTCROP ELEVATIONS 

Elevations on surface exposures of contact of Alum Bluff green clay with under¬ 
lying Glendon or Chattahoochee formation 

Elevation, feet 


Bkooks Co.: 

1. Devil’s Hopper, 2 mi. NE. of Barwick-135 

2. Haddock place, 8^ mi. S.-SW. of Quitman, on Monticello Rd.-125 




116 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


Elevations on surface exposures of contact of Alum Bluff green clay with under¬ 
lying Glendon or Chattahoochee formation — continued. 

Elevation, feet 

Ckisp Co.: 

3. Rock House, 3.3 mi. E.-NE. of Wenona-347 

Decatur Co.: 

4. Powell lime sink, 8*4 mi. east of Bainbridge, upper Thomasville Rd-165 

5. Falling Water, 1*4 mi. west of Recovery, on Railroad, and 12^ mi. west of 

Faceville _120 

Dooly Co.: 

6. Five and one-half miles SE. of Vienna, on Rochelle Rd.-384 

Echols Co.: 

7. Allapaha River, 1 mi. below Statenville-90 

Grady Co.: 

8. Forest Falls, 8 mi. north of Whigham-190 

9. James Blackshear place, 8 mi. south of Cairo, east bank of Ochlocknee River 150 

Laurens Co.: 

10. Dublin, SE. part of town_215 

Lowndes Co.: 

11. One hundred yards below wagon bridge, 3 mi. below G. & F. trestle over 

Withlacoochee River _95 

Mitchell Co.: 

12. Haygood place, 5 mi. N.-NW. of Sales City-260 

13. Six mi. east of Camilla, on Moultrie Rd. Foot of Alum Bluff escarpment_260 

Screven Co.: 

14. Five miles NE. of Sylvania, on Brier Creek_90 

Thomas Co.: 

15. M. D. McKinnon place, 5 mi. east of Thomasville, % mi. south of Boston Rd_180 

16. Original Pond, 11 mi. south of Thomasville, 4 miles west of Metcalf_175 

17. A. H. Hough place, HV 2 mi. SW. of Thomasville, on Springhill Rd_170 

Turner Co.: 

18. One mile NE. of Dakota_335 

Wilcox Co.: 

19. Lime sink, 9 mi. S.-SW. of Abbeville, on Center School Rd_180 

20. Jordan’s Landing, Ocmulgee River, 6 mi. SE. of Abbeville_173 

21. Five and seven-tenths miles north of Rochelle, on Ilawkinsville Rd_325 

Worth Co.: 

22. Three miles NW. of Bridgeboro, at Indian Cave, on Albany Rd._285 

Elevations on surface exposures of contact of Alum Bluff green clay with 
underlying Barnwell formation 

• Elevation, feet 

Emanuel Co.: 

23. Two and one-half miles SW. of Midville, on E. Cross place_181 

Jenkins Co.: 

24. Four miles north of Millen, on Buckhead Creek, at mouth of Spring Mill 

Branch ---155 





















Well data used in making structural map. 


ELEVATIONS DETERMINED FROM WELL LOGS 


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Well data used in making structural map — (continued). 


118 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


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Well data used in making structural m ap — ( continued ) ■ _ 

j j i Surf. j Depth i Elev. i Quality 


WELL DATA USED IN MAKING STRUCTURAL MAP 


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Well data used in making structural map — ( continued ). 


120 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


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WELL LOGS USED IN MAKING STRUCTURAL MAP 


121 


LOGS OF WELLS USED IX DETERMINING STRUCTURE 

CONTOUR LINES 


Appling Co.: 

1. Baxley: 

Blue marl and sand_ 

Shell and sand alternating_ 

Limestone _ 

Ben Hill Co.: 

2. Fitzgerald, partial log of City Water Works 'well: 

Yellow clay _ 

Red clay _ 

Water-bearing sandstone, coarse_ 

White clay with sand_ 

White marl _ 

Coarse sandstone. Water_ 

White marl and sandstone layers_ 

Sticky brown marl_ 

Limestone _ 

Soft clay _ 

White marl _ 

Porous limestone _ 

Hard limestone _ 

Flinty limestone _ 

Berrien Co.: 

3. Nashville, city well: 

Red clay _ 

Red sandstone _ 

White marl _ 

White sand _ 

White marl _ 

Streaks soft rock and white marl_ 

Brown limestone, alternating hard and soft- 

Two feet cavity and water at_ 

4. Allapaha, Mill well: 

Mainly sand ___ 

Limestone _ 

Bryan Co.: 

5. Keller, town well: 

Sand _ 

Mud and gravel - 

Greenish marl (clay and sand)- 

Shale rock - 

Sand, shale rock, and hard marl- 

Limestone, water-bearing --— 

6. Pembroke, generalized: 

Sand and clay - 

Limestone, water-bearing - 

Bulloch Co.: 

7. Statesboro, town well No. 2: 

Soft yellow sand and clay alternating- 

Light-colored hard sandstone - 

Light-colored soft sand - 

Light-colored marl and sand- 


Feet. 

. 0-208 
208-426 
426- ? 


0-10 
10-16 
16-20 
20-45 
45—65 
65-70 
70-115 
115-183 
183-225 
.225-230 
230-242 
.242-260 
260-280 
.280- 


0-20 

20-55 

55-85 

85-100 

100-130 

130-200 

200-240 

240- 


0-230 

230-680 


0-20 

20-50 

50-70 

70-72 

72-310 

310-325 


0-250 

250- 


0-40 

40-70 

70-80 

80-100 









































122 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 

Log of wells used in determining structural lines—continued 

Feet. 

Light-colored chalky material - 100—120 

Light-colored tough rock _120—140 

Light-colored soft sand -140—160 

Tough light-colored rock and sand in layers-160—220 

Light-colored hard rock _220—240 

Tough light-colored rock and sand in layers-240—280 

Soft chalky material _280—330 

Hard white rock _330—360 

Medium-hard, white sand and rock in layers-360—400 

Medium-hard, dark-brown shell rock, water-bearing-400—460 

Light-brown shell rock, interbedded shell layers, water-bearing-460-555 

8. Portal, B. E. Smith well: 

Sand and clay - 0—300 

Limestone -300—390 

9. Register: 

Sand and clay - 0—120 

Blue marl _140—280 

Hard white rock, alternating with water-bearing sand-280—360 

Camden Co.: 

10. Southeastern quarter of County, generalized: 

Sand and blue marl- 0—480 

Limestone -480— ? 

Charlton Co.: 

11. Folkstone, town well: 

Sand and blue marl - 0—510 

Water-bearing horizon at _510— 

Chatham Co.: 

12. Savannah, city well, generalized: 

Sand, clay and marl - 0—240 

Soft porous limestone _240— ? 

Clinch Co.: 

13. Thelma : 

Sand --- 0—18 

Limestone, water-bearing _18— ? 

Coffee Co.: 

14. Douglas, O’Stein well, 1 mi. HE. of town, generalized: 

Red to white sand and clay-12-65 

Blue shale and sand_65—141 

Hard white and yellow rock -141—153 

Red clay _153—165 

White to yellow limestone_165—200 

Soft white shale -200—280 

White to yellow limestone, hard and soft alternating_280—520 

15. W. M. Harden, 9% mi. N.-NE. of Douglas, generalized: 

Red to gray clay and sand_ 3—118 

Soft blue shale -118-228 

Soft white sand. A little water_228—233 

White to yellow limestone, hard and soft_,_233—396 

16. Jeff Lewis, 7% mi. east of Douglas,, generalized: 

Gray to red sand and clay_ 8—190 

Hard and soft blue shale_190—295 







































WELL LOGS USED IN MAKING STRUCTURAL MAP 


123 


Log of wells used in determining structural lines—continued 


Feet. 

Soft yellow rock (limestone?)_295—300 

17. Elijah Lot, 4 mi. south of Broxton (Douglas Rd.): 

Sand and clay _ 0—200 

Limestone _ 200—260 

Cook Co.: 

18. Adel, town well (partial record) : 

Sandy soil_:_ 0-2 

Red clay _t- 2—12 

White sand _12—22 

Blue clay with sandstone boulders _22—147 

Fine white sand _147—172 

Limestone with thin layers of flint; _172-272 


water-bearing at 229. 

Dodge Co.: 

19. Chauncey, Warehouse & Mfg. Co., generalized: 


Sand and clay _ 0—146 

Blue shale and sand _1-146—184 

Soft limestone with small amount of clay___184-210 

20. Consolidated School, 4 mi. north of Eastman, generalized: 

Red to dark sand and clay_ 0—55 

Gray and blue sand and shale-55—135 

White to yellow limestone, hard and soft_135—206 

21. R. F. Burch, Sr., 6 mi. SW. of Eastman, generalized: 

Clay and sand, white, red and yellow- 0—100 

Blue clay and shale _100—140 

Hard yellow limestone _140—408 

22. Wm. McRae, 8 mi. west of Eastman, generalized: 

Red and white clay and sand- 0—59 

Blue shale _59—87 

Yellow limestone -87—115 

23. W. P. Holder, 11 mi. south of Cochran, on Eastman Rd. (dug well) : 

Sand and clay - 0—15 

Limestone -15-40 


Effingham Co.: 

24. Guyton, J. T. Wells: 

Clay - 

Rock _ 

Rock in beds. Sharks teeth and shells 
Quicksand - 

Evans Co.: 

25. Claxton, N. H. Thaggard, generalized: 


Sand, marl and rock- 0-310 

Hard white rock-310—350 

Fine white sand -350—365 


Hard brownish limestone with nummulites and orbitoids, including 
sp. cf. O. stellata. Cuttings 365-370 appear definitely Ocala. Top 
of Chattahoochee probably at 310, giving 55 feet of Oligocene—365—370 


_ 0-200 

_200—201 Vi 

201 %—396 
_396—400 
































124 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


Log of wells used in determining structural lines—continued 


Glynn Co.: 


Feet. 


26. Brunswick area, composite: 


Sand, clay and marl--- 0-500 

Limestone _500— ? 


27. Everett City, generalized: 


Sand and marl _ 0—440 

Limestone -440—460 


Ikwin Co.: 

28. Ocilla, Ensign Oskamp Co.: 

Sand and clay - 0-60 

Soft rock _60-76 

Sand _76—105 

Rock _105—300 

Very hard rock _300—312 

Porous limestone with cavities 4 feet deep-312—512 

29. Osierfield: 

Red sandstone and clay - 0—100 

Rock _100—160 

Sand _160—230 

Blue clay, with some limestone_230—330 

Main body of limestone at-330. 


Jeff Davis Co.: 

30. Oil prospecting well 8 mi. SW. of Hazelhurst: 


Surface clay and sand - 0—25 

Soft clay and sand_ 25—225 

Blue clay and sand _225—400 

Hard rock (limestone), shells at top -400—415 

Principally limestone _415-815 

Black sandstone _815-828 


31. Lillian B. No. 2, 12 mi. west of Hazelhurst (partial log), generalized: 


Sand and clay - 0—350 

Limestone _350—400 

Clay, limestone, sand, and marl _400—700 

Limestone _700—1140 


32. Cadwell, two wells, composite: 


Sand, clay and rock _ 0—200 

Limestone _200- 1 


Liberty Co.: 

33. Fleming area, composite of numerous wells: 


Sand, clay and flint _ 0—360 

Limestone -360— 1 


34. Allenhurst, Byers-Alien Lumber Co., generalized: 


Clay, sand and rock___ 0—440 

Limestone and shell -440—546 

35. St. Catherine Island: 

Sand - 0—38 

Coarse sand with gravel and shells_38-41 

Sand _41-230 

Greenish marl _230—310 

Grayish marl - 310-385 






































WELL LOGS USED IN MAKING STRUCTURAL MAP 


125 


Log of wells used in determining structural lines—continued 


Feet. 

Marl and layers of soft rock. First flow at 398 _385-398 

Marl and layers of rock. Flow at 432 _398-438 

36. Riceboro area, composite, generalized: 

Clay, sand and rock_ 0-375 

Main limestone _375— ? 

Lowndes Co.: 

37. Valdosta area, composite, generalized: 

Yellow sand, clay and blue marl_ 0-90 

White to yellow, hard and soft limestone_ 90—500 

38. Hahira, town well, generalized: 

Sand, clay and blue marl_ 0—125 

White limestone _125— ? 

McIntosh Co.: 

39. Eulonia: 

Sand and red clay_ 0-40 

Sand and clay_ 40—300 

Hard flint layer_300—301% 

Blue marl _1_301%—420 

Limestone _420— 1 

40. Jones: 

Clay, sand, and blue marl _ 0-415 

Limestone _415—425 

Stopped in limestone. 

41. Meridian: 

Clay, sand, and blue marl_ 0—471 

Limestone at 471. 

Pierce Co.: 


42. Offerman, Southern Pine Lumber Co., generalized: 

Sand, light clay and blue marl_ 0—420 

Medium to hard, white and yellow limestone with some coarse gray 

sand _420—675% 


Screven Co. : 

43. Rocky Ford, composite: 

Sand and clay- 0—85 

Limestone, hard water _85— 1 

Telfair Co.: 

44. Helena, Coca Cola Bottling Works: 

Sandy loam - 0-7 

Red clay, streaks of pipe clay- 7—27 

Sluffy, sandy shale, streaks of pipe clay-27—101 

Soft sandy shale, fossils -101—124 

Sandstone _124-128 

Soft sandy shale-128—160 

Soft shale_160—165 

Plard sandstone _165—168 

White sandy clay -168-180 

Hard blue shale -180-200 

Very hard flint lime rock-200—210 

Medium-hard limestone -210—222 


































126 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


Log of wells used in determining structural lines—continued 


Feet 

45. Scotland, Telfair Oil Co., generalized: 

Sand _ 0—180 

Limestone _180—465 

46. Lumber City, M. L. McRae: 

Sand _ 0—5 

Clay _ 5-22 

Sand _22-32 

Red clay _32-37 

Blue shale_37—173 

Shell rock_173-175% 

Blue shale_175%—198% 

Hard rock _198%-199% 

Blue shale _199%-269% 

Hard rock _269%-273% 

Vein _273 %—274 

Rock _274-276 

Vein _276-276% 

Porous rock_276%—294% 

Titt Co.: 

47. Tifton, town well, generalized: 

White sand and clay, some flint_ 0—135 

Light-gray, argillaceous, calcareous sand_135—150 

Quartz sand and calcareous sand_150—212 

White sandy limestone (probably Chattahoochee, according to U. S. G. S.) 212-278 
Flint _278-283 

48. Cycloneta, W. S. Greer: 

Clay and rock_:_ 0—150 

Rock and sand _150—190 

Solid limestone _190—280 

Toombs Co.: 

49. Vidalia, Ice Co., composite of two wells, generalized: 

Alternate clay and sand_ 0-168 

Rock, sand and blue clay_168—434 

Rock lime _434—511 


Note: Almost exact agreement between two wells drilled by different 


men several years apart. 

Wabe Co.: 

50. Waycross City well, generalized: 

White sand and red to white clay_ 0-185 

Marl, blue clay, and sand alternating_185—380 

Shells and shell marl_ 380—415 

Highly fossiliferous limestone; Tampa horizon at_415. 

Mainly limestone, some sand and clay_415—691 

51. Fredel, Waycross Oil & Gas Co., generalized: 

Sand and some clay_ 0—435 

Limestone with some flint_435—855 

Sand _855-1278 

Limestone _1278—2115 

Marl _:-2115-2163 

Sand with some clay_2163—3045 







































WELL LOGS USED IN MAKING STRUCTURAL MAP 


127 


Log of wells used in determining structural lines—continued 

Wayne Co.: 


52. Doctortown, oil prospecting well, generalized: 

Sand with some clay_ 0—320 

Limestone, flint and marl_320—465 

Limestone -465-1462 

Sand with some clay _1462-1901 

53. Mt. Pleasant, Southern Pine Products Co., generalized: 

Gray sand and clay _ 0—115 

Sandy clay, sand, and calcareous sand_115-476 

White sandy limestone, water in lower 20 feet_476-560 

Worth Co.: 

54. Willingham, dug well on north side of R. R., 100 yrds. east of Station: 

Sand - 0-10 

Limestone _10— ? 


GENERAL STRUCTURAL EVIDENCE 

Evidence in support of tlie regional structure of area No. 3 is af¬ 
forded by areal geology together with the general topographic condi¬ 
tions. (See Map III.) Nowhere do the underlying formations reap¬ 
pear at the surface after they have once disappeared down dip. 
Moreover, the most southeasterly exposures of the older formations 
have at every point been found to show no evidence of having been 
raised above their normal regional position. 

Further evidence of more questionable value is found in the gen¬ 
eral courses of the streams, most of which flow down dip. The most 
notable departure from this is afforded by the direction of flow of the 
Ocmulgee River west of Hazelhurst, where it swings to the east and 
northeast for about 30 miles. The local prominence in this area of 
the indurated portion of the Alum Bluff formation may, in large 
part at least, account for this change of direction of the river course. 
It is also possible that the headwaters of the present Ocmulgee were 
captured by the western tributaries of the Oconee-Altamaha River, 
the character of the Alum Bluff locally aiding this. The waters of 
the present Ocmulgee may very well have flowed southward through 
the Withlacoochee or Alapaha rivers before their capture. 

Another departure from the normal stream direction is shown by 
the course of the St. Mary’s River. This river in part drains the 











128 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


Okefenokee Swamp, the natural drainage of which is partly to the At¬ 
lantic Ocean on the east and partly to the Gulf of Mexico to the south¬ 
west. Because of topographic and structural highs south of the Oke¬ 
fenokee Swamp in Florida there is no drainage directly south. The 
drainage of the Okefenokee to the east, however, has been interrupted 
by Trail Ridge, which probably represents an old barrier beach, rather 
than a structural high. The presence of this barrier would therefore 
turn the drainage of the Okefenokee to the south until some point 
(here marked by the eastward direction of the St. Mary’s) was reach¬ 
ed where the stream could cut across or go around this barrier. East of 
+be present northward-flowing part of the St. Mary’s the land is 
higher and blocks drainage directly east, turning the river north¬ 
ward to the point opposite Folkstone, where its normal direction is re¬ 
sumed. 

An examination of the structural map shows that although the St. 
Mary’s River is locally turned from its normal direction by topo¬ 
graphic barriers its general course is down regional dip. 

Along the major streams throughout at least the inland third of 
area No. 3 any post-Alum Bluff uplift of only relatively slight magni¬ 
tude would have brought to the surface the formations below the Alum 
Bluff. At no place have any such exposures been recognized. Their 
recognition would, moreover, be easy, for they are limestone, and 
contrast sharply in lithology with the clays and sands of the Alum 
Bluff formation. 

The presence of flowing wells along the larger streams and over 
such a large part of the southeastern third of the area constitutes 
additional evidence against the existence of folds or uplifts of mag¬ 
nitude, younger than the beginning of the deposition of the blue clay 
of the Alum Bluff formation. 

The key horizon selected for determining the regional structure 
shows only movements subsequent to the deposition of the basal blue 
clay of the Alum Bluff formation. Where this Alum Bluff clay rests 
conformably upon older formations older structural conditions would 


PETROLEUM POSSIBILITIES OF GEORGIA 


PLATE VII 



A. OCALA LIMESTONE, BLUFF OF KITCHAFOONEE CREEK, 7 MILES ABOVE 

ALBANY. 



B. OCALA LIMESTONE IN CUT ON G. S. & F. R. R., 4 MILES NORTH OF GROVANIA 

HOUSTON COUNTY. 










OIL SEEPS IN GEORGIA 


129 


be shown, but the extent of such conformable relationships is too little 
known to be of much practical value. There may have been folds 
antedating the deposition of the blue clays which were planed off 
and later covered and completely buried by younger beds. No buried 
structures of this type are known in Georgia, but their presence might 
possibly be shown by carefully compiled logs of wells drilled in 
the future. 

OIL SEEPS IN GEORGIA 

Seeps have been reported from time to time in various parts of the 
Coastal Plain of Georgia. Usually the supposed oil has been shown 
to be a film of iron oxide, but in some cases the material has been 
definitely shown to be genuine crude petroleum. These genuine seeps 
have been the chief source of interest in the promotion of petroleum 
investigations. 

Seeps of petroleum have been noted 5 to 15 miles south of Augusta, 
near the Savannah River, near Louisville, Wrightsville, Hawkinsville, 
Scotland, and Sandersville, and at other places. Among the most note¬ 
worthy of these are the seeps near Scotland, Wrightsville, and Haw¬ 
kinsville. A brief description of each is here given. 

Scotland seep .—The oil seepage near Scotland, Telfair County, 
is on the H. G. Sample farm, about a mile soutji of the town. The 
oil occurs as a film on small springs in swampy ground. The surface 
material belongs to the Alum Bluff formation. This seep has been 
carefully studied and a report has been published by this Survey. 
An analysis of the oil is as follows: 


Analysis of oil from Scotland oil seep. 


Specific gravity 

at 15° C. 





0.8485 

Distillate to 

150° 

C 

( 

302° 

F) 

1-4% 

Distillate to 

150° — 200” 

0 

(302° 

— 392° 

F) 

3.0% 

Distillate 

200° — 250° 

0 

(392° 

— 482° 

F) 

20.0% 

Distillate 

250° — 300' 

0 

o 

<N 

00 

— 572° 

F) 

43.0% 

Disti’late 

300' — 325° 

0 

(572° 

— 617° 

F) 

15.0% 

Residue above 

325° 

C 

( 

617° 

F) 

17.1% 


The residue gave the reaction for asphalt. 







130 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


Wrightsville seep .—The oil seep near Wrightsville, Johnson Coun¬ 
ty, is on the Ed. Spell farm, 4 miles west-northwest of town. The oil 
occurs as globules and thick films on a small spring issuing from the 
Glendon formation. This seep yields more oil than any other in the 
State. Two analyses of the oil are given below. 


Analysis of oil sample No. 1 


Specific 

Gravity at 15° 



0.87 

0. 

Baum§ 31 


Distillate 

50° — 

75° 

C 




0.7% 

Distillate 

125° — 

150° 

0 




1.5% 

Distillate 

150° — 

175° 

c 




4-2% 

Distillate 

175° — 

200° 

c 




9.3% 

Distillate 

200° — 

225° 

c 




17.4% 

Distillate 

225° — 

250° 

c 




34.7% 





Total 



67.8% 


Analysis of 

oil sample No- 2 




Specific 

gravity at 15° 



0.875. 

Baum§ 29% 


Distillate 

130° — 

150° 

C (2i 

f>6° — 302° 

F) 


2 % 

Distillate 

150° — 

200° 

C (302° — 392° 

F) 


13%% 

Distillate 

200° — 

250° 

C (392° — 482° 

F) 


15 % 

Distillate 

250° — 

300° 

C (482° — 572° 

F) 


12%% 

Distillate 

300° — 

350° 

C (5' 

72° — 662° 

F) 


10 % 

Distillate above 


350° 

C ( 

662° 

F) 


47 % 


Paraffin in fraction above 350° 


Hawkinsville seep .—Two oil seeps occur near the town of Hawkins- 
ville, Pulaski County. One is on the Fitzroyal farm, 12 miles west 
of town, and the other is on the R. A. Seales place, i/2 mile east of 
the river at Hawkinsville. At both places the oil occurs as thick 
globules on springs which issue from swampy ground in the Glendon 
formation. Both appear genuine. No analysis of the oil from either 
place is available. 

Interpretation .—The interpretation of oil seeps is commonly a 
difficult task. That they represent the presence of some oil is ob¬ 
vious, but they do not normally give any very good idea as to the 
quantity and seldom are of value in determining the location of the 


source. 









GENERAL STRUCTURE COAST PLAIN 


131 


The seeps of Georgia, so far as the writers have been able to de¬ 
termine, aie not associated with any structures favorable for accumu¬ 
lation. Moreover, in no case is there any evidence of faulting or 
fracturing which would furnish passageways of escape from depth. 
Also, in practically every case impervious clay beds are near the sur¬ 
face and would tend to stop migration of the oil from depth. In view 
of these conditions the writers are of the opinion that the seeps do 
not come from quantity supply at depth. 

GENERALIZED STRUCTURE OF THE COASTAL PLAIN OF GEORGIA 

AND ADJACENT AREAS 

Figure 12 shows some general regional structural conditions be¬ 
tween Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina. The lines show the gen¬ 
eral strike of Cenozoic formations and do not represent definite eleva¬ 
tions of any particular key horizon. The strike lines throughout 
Georgia are generalized from the Geologic Map III. Strike lines 
of the Florida area are generalized and slightly modified from the 



Fig. 11.—Generalized structure of Coastal Plain of Georgia and adjacent areas. 










132 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


Twelfth Annual Report of the Florida Geological Survey. The 
single dashed line projected into South Carolina connects the calcu¬ 
lated sea level of the top of the Barnwell formation of eastern Georgia 
with approximate sea level of the top of the Cooper marl of South 
Carolina. These two horizons are thought to he approximately the 
same. 

CONCLUSIONS ON THE STRUCTURAL CONDITIONS OF THE COASTAL 

PLAIN OF GEORGIA 

The structure of the Coastal Plain of Georgia as a whole appears 
to be simple. For the most part it is gently monoclinal. Throughout 
practically the whole of the time which has elapsed since the begin¬ 
ning of Upper Cretaceous time, or earlier, it has not been subjected 
to intense or violent disturbances, but its movements have apparently 
been broad, regional oscillations, with recurrent advances and retreats 
of the seas. 

It is, of course, possible that beneath the younger formations, and 
especially beneath the Miocene strata, folds or faults of magnitude 
may exist but are now buried, but certainly no evidence of such past 
movements is available from the present known data. 

The structure of the Coastal Plain of Georgia cannot be considered 
as especially favorable for the accumulation of oil. One or two slight 
irregularities, as previously described, appear to be present, but the 
work done has failed to disclose any local structures of much promise. 

Throughout practically the whole of area No. 3 the writers feel 
that with the data that are at present available no more detailed 
work than lias been done is possible, for key horizons of any value 
are lacking at the surface and any key horizon must be determined 
from veil records. Additional wells with accurate logs may in the 
future throw added light on the regional structure, but it is extremely 
doubtful if the local details of the structural conditions of the area 
as a whole will ever be definitely determined. 


PETROLEUM POSSIBILITIES IN COASTAL PLAIN 


133 


Over most of area No. 2 the work done is as detailed as the available 
data permit, with the results as previously stated. A lack of key 
beds and much local slumping have restricted the work very largely 
to a joint interpretation of areal geology and topography. Reliable 
well logs, on which subsurface key horizons might be accurately lo¬ 
cated, are too few to be of much real value. 

Over a small part of area No. 2, and over a considerable part of 
area No. 1, more detailed work can be done. However, the work done 
was sufficiently detailed to disclose any structures of considerable 
magnitude. Moreover, in a large part of area No. 1 proximity to 
the old crystalline area north of the Fall line, with the consequent 
thinness of the sedimentary strata, and the lithologic character of the 
beds make more detailed work unwarranted. 

Different interpretations of the well logs of area No. 3 and of the 
data in the remainder of the Coastal Plain may somewhat modify the 
structural conditions shown herein, but the writers believe that such 
modifications would only slightly affect regional conditions and would 
fail to throw additional light upon the presence or absence of local 
structures of magnitude. 

PETROLEUM POSSIBILITIES 

POSSIBLE SOURCES OF OIL IN THE COASTAL PLAIN 

A matter of vital importance in regard to commercial production 
of oil is the presence, in the formations, of material that could furnish 
oil in quantity. A summary statement of known conditions relative 
to a possible source of oil in Georgia is therefore given, as follows: 

Cretaceous rocks .—The Cretaceous rocks of Georgia are known to 
consist, at their outcrops and where encountered in wells, of sand, 
clay, gravel, some very impure limestone, and some sandy calcareous 
marls. The lower portion of the Cretaceous wherever seen consists 
mainly of coarse sand, gravel, and clay of such character that they 
could not possibly serve as a source of oil. The upper part of the 
Cretaceous consists generally of light to dark-gray sands, clays, and 


134 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


marls, both at outcrops and where encountered in wells. Laboratory 
tests have shown traces of oil from some of the material encountered, 
but nothing of quantity has been found. 

Midway, Wilcox and Claiborne formations. —The rocks of the 
Midway, Wilcox, and Claiborne formations make up a series of light 
to dark-colored sands, clays, and marls, with a few lenses of hard 
gray limestone. Laboratory tests have shown slight traces of oil from 
well cuttings of some of these formations. 

Ocala, Barnwell, Glendon, and Chattahoochee formations. —The 
rocks of these formations, wherever encountered in wells, consist 
almost wholly of white to yellow limestones with local flint beds. Nu¬ 
merous tests have failed to show even traces of oil-forming matter 
in any of these formations. 

Alum Bluff formation. —The Alum Bluff formation consists of red 
to white sands and red to white to bluish and greenish clays. Labora¬ 
tory tests have shown oil in some of the material. 

Summary. —The formations in Georgia, as now known, are not 
very promising sources of petroleum in commercial quantities. It 
is of course true that the formations may change lithologically in areas 
yet untested, and may there be more favorable as an oil source, though 
from the few fairly deep test wells this is not to be expected. Over all 
but the inland limits of the Coastal Plain of Georgia no formations 
older than the lower part of the Ripley have yet been penetrated, and 
it is therefore possible that the underlying Eutaw or older formations, 
if present, may be petroliferous. It is also even possible that be¬ 
neath the Tertiary and Cretaceous in the southeastern part of the 
Coastal Plain of Georgia petroliferous Paleozoic strata may exist, but 
this is only a possibility. If such formations were present they would 
probably be too deep to be reached by the drill, and their value would 
lie in being a source from which migration of oil to higher horizons 
could take place. 

The presence of oil seeps in the Coastal Plain appears to offer lit- 


EXPLANATION 



COASTAL PLAIN OF GEORGIA 

PREPARED BY 

THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 
S. W. McCALLIE, STATE GEOLOGIST 
IN COOPERATION WITH 

the united states geological survey 


33 r 


s 


H 


Ccohii r iBus 

~ £ 

OATTAPOOCftEE 

Ts\\ 

N^Cusse 


^V° 


7rT\ / 

S.) I ST-E.W AjR-7 

$ & 


32 


jLiraplj 

' JjC 





jl 


Pleistocene deposits 


£ 

< 

z 

ac 

uJ 

z> 

or 


Charlton formation 


:rf 


Duplin marl and 
Marks Head marl 


Alum Bluff formation 


Chattahoochee formation 


Glendon formation 
(of Vicksburg age) 


Ocala limestone in west; 
Barnwell form’n in east 
(of Jackson age) 


V-32° 


> 

tt 

< 

H 

£T 


SA 


Undifferentiated Claiborne 
group in west; McBean 
formation in east 


Wilcox formation 


' 4 ? 2 Islaric 


-l-L?L |E R . 
/Colquitt 

y.SaffoId \ I Or 

iKi_ 


Midway formation 


, 5.00 

'Stibimon Island 


Undifferentiated Upper 
and Lower Cretaceous 


31 


/Cumberland Islard 


s oV°‘ 

lernandinal 


.|00- 


Topography and structure by T. M. Prettyman and 
H. S. Cave 

Base adapted from Bulletin 26, Georgia Geol. Survey 


I H H bU-CB 


10 0 
rHH H H H" 


20 30 40 50 KILOMETERS 


Contour interval 100 feet. Datum mean sealevel 


Geology revised from pub..shed sources and from 
original field work by C. Wythe Cooke, T. M. 
Prettyman, and H. S. Cave 


84> 


83 


32 


81 


N.W. 

Feet ^4 

400 -T"- 

i 200 L- / / 

q I'etfv 

1 400 -I Crystalline 
600 J - 


Orm ulryee R i.v^r 


S E N.W. 

Feet Chattahoochee River 


Ocrrvulgee River 


Cretaceo 


us 



Alum Bluff formation 


SECTION ALONG LINE A-A 


200 - 

400- 

600 

800 


CvTcz level -— 


" Midway forrPo- 



Flint River 

J.— 


Structure contours drawn at 
the base of the greenish clay 
near the bottom of the Alum 
Bluff formation. Figures in 
color indicate altitude in 
feet above or below sea level 

O Wells 

X Contact of Alum Bluff with 
Chattahoochee 9 Glendon 
exposures 

□ Contact of Alum Bluff 
with Barnwell exposures 

Figures (7, 2.3etc.) serial 
numbers of wells 
and contacts 


S.E. 

Alum Bluff form.. J}' 
I Och lockon erRiver 



SECTION ALONG LINE B-B 


CRETACEOUS 
























































































































































































































































































































OIL POSSIBILITIES NORTH OF FALL LINE 


135 


tie hope of commercial production, because the data fail to indicate 
that the oil comes from quantity supply at depth. 

The known character of the rocks of the Coastal Plain of Georgia, 
the noticeable lack of dark shales, organic marls or limestones, or any 
really petroliferous rocks, would therefore appear not to offer much 
hope for commercial production of petroleum. 

PETROLEUM POSSIBILITIES NORTH OF THE FALL LINE 

The portion of Georgia lying north of the Fall line embraces an 
area of approximately 22,000 square miles, the greater part of which 
is included in the Piedmont Plateau. Three other physiographic di¬ 
visions are also represented in the northern portion of Georgia. These 
are the Appalachian Mountains, the Appalachian Valley, and the 
Cumberland Plateau. Of these the Appalachian Mountains are of 
greatest areal extent. The Appalachian Valley and the Cumberland 
Plateau together are represented in the ten northwest counties of the 
State. 

Piedmont Plateau and the Appalachian Mountains. —Both the 
Piedmont Plateau region and the Appalachian Mountains m Georgia 
are composed of very old sedimentary rocks and of igneous rocks, 
which have repeatedly been subjected to intense folding and squeez¬ 
ing, so that today their structure is very complex, and are all highly 
crystalline. They are entirely negligible as a possible source of com¬ 
mercial production of petroleum. No rocks of their age and degree of 
metamorphism have ever produced petroleum in quantity. So highly 
have the formations of the Piedmont Plateau and the Appalachain 
Mountains in Georgia been metamorphosed that any possible oil or 
oil-forming material which the rocks of these areas may ever have 
contained has long ago passed beyond the hope of recovery as liquid 
petroleum. 

Appalachian Valley and the Cumberland Plateau. The ten north¬ 
west counties of Georgia lie within the areas of the Appalachian Val¬ 
ley and the Cumberland Plateau. The rocks of these regions are 


136 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


mainly Paleozoic in age, and range from pre-Cambrian, through Cam¬ 
brian, Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian, Mississippian, and Pennsyl¬ 
vanian. 

The Appalachian Valley includes all of the ten northwest coun¬ 
ties, with the exception of Dade County and a small part of Walker 
and Chattooga counties. The rocks are limestones, sandstones, and 
shales, or their metamorphic equivalents. Though not folded as 
much as the rocks of the Piedmont Plateau, the formations of the Ap¬ 
palachian Valley area have nevertheless been subjected to intense 
deformation. 

The petroleum possibilities of the Appalachian Valley are very 
slight, because of two major unfavorable conditions. The first of 
these is the intense degree to which the formations have been folded. 
No exact figures on the fixed carbon ratios are available, but the facts 
that at a few places graphite is present, that the shales have at many 
places been metamorphosed to slates, that the limestones are in large 
part either highly crystalline or have been converted to marbles, and 
that farther west, where the folding is somewhat less intense, the 
amount of fixed carbon in the coals has passed the 75 per cent ratio, 
give good evidence that any petroleum or petroleum-forming material 
that may ever have been present would have been converted into 
gas and fixed carbon and would no longer be recoverable as liquid oil. 
It is more probable that small amounts of natural gas might be en¬ 
countered, though the possibilities of this are of very minor im¬ 
portance. 

The second major condition operating against the Appalachian 
Valley region of Georgia being an area of petroleum production is its 
structure. Both anticlinal and synclinal folds are present, but so deep 
has been the erosion in the area that in nearly every case the upper 
portions of the anticlines have been removed and the rocks that might 
normally have been regarded as hopeful producers are no longer pres¬ 
ent, and only very old, non-petroliferous rocks remain. Today the 
synclines occupy the topographically high areas. 


OIL POSSIBILITIES NORTH OF FALL LINE 


137 


Because of small areal distribution and their degree of meta- 
morphisin, these rocks cannot reasonably be expected to contain 
oil in quantity. 

The Cumberland Plateau region of Georgia is embraced in Lookout, 
Sand and Pigeon mountains. Stratigraphically it is similar to the 
Appalacliain Valley, though the rocks exposed are mainly of Carbon¬ 
iferous age. The region has not been subjected to quite such intense 
folding as has the Appalacliain Valley, but nevertheless the pressures 
that have been exerted on the rocks have caused the coal in the region 
to pass beyond the 75 per cent fixed carbon ratio. 

Structurally the region is also similar to the Appalacliain Valley, 
though in the Cumberland Plateau area nearly the whole is synclinal, 
the synclines being the topographically high areas, and the very small 
valleys are on deeply eroded, sharp anticlines. 

The high fixed carbon ratios of the coals of the regions, the syn¬ 
clinal structure of most of the area, the sharpness of the anticlines 
and their deeply eroded crests, and the crystalline character of most 
of the rocks are unfavorable to commercial production in the Cumber¬ 
land Plateau area. 

Some of the formations in the Paleozoic area of northwest Georgia 
are elsewhere oil bearing. This is true of the Chattanooga shale, of 
Devonian age, the equivalent of which yields oil in Kentucky. But 
in all productive areas the rocks have been subjected to far less fold¬ 
ing and metamorphism than in northwest Georgia. 

Summary .—The writers believe the petroleum possibilities of Geor¬ 
gia north of the Fall line are as follows: (1) The Piedmont Plateau 
and the Appalachian Mountain regions are impossible areas; (2) the 
Appalachian Valley is a possible area for small oil or gas production, 
but highly improbable; (3) the Cumberland Plateau region is the 
most possible for small gas or oil production, but nevertheless is 
highly improbable. 


138 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


OIL PROSPECT WELLS NORTH OF THE FALL LINE 

Three moderately deep oil-prospect wells have been drilled in Geor¬ 
gia north of the Fall line. One of these was drilled 7 miles south 
of the town of Madison, the county seat of Morgan County, and the 
other two were drilled near the city of Rome. 

Morgan County Well. —The oil-prospect well of Morgan County 
was drilled on the Dr. A. 0. Willson plantation,? miles south of Mad¬ 
ison. The work was begun in 1908 and continued at intervals for 
more than three years. The hole was eventually abandoned, at a 
depth of 1,105 feet. From the beginning the prospect for oil was hope¬ 
less, the well being located in the crystalline area of the Piedmont 
Plateau region. 

Rome Petroleum and Iron Company’s Well No. 1.—The Rome 
Petroleum and Iron Company’s oil-prospect well No. 1 was located 
about 41/2 miles northwest of Rome. The drilling was done during 
1902 and 1903, and a depth of about 1200 feet was attained. The 
well was commenced in the Floyd shale, of Mississippian age. The 
drilling was probably stopped in the lower part of the Rockwood form¬ 
ation, of Silurian age. The formations thus encountered were Floyd 
shale and Fort Payne chert (Mississippian) and the Rockwood (Si¬ 
lurian) formation. It is doubtful if any Chattanooga black shale 
(Devonian) was encountered in the hole. No production of oil or 
gas was obtained. 

Rome Petroleum and Iron Company’s Well No. 2.—This second 
test well was located about 8 miles west of Rome. It was drilled 
during 1902 and 1903, and attained a depth of 1,850 feet. The well 
was apparently begun in the Floyd shale, and penetrated the Fort 
Payne chert, the Rockwood formation, and possibly stopped in the 
Chickamauga limestone, of Ordovician age. No production of oil or 
gas was obtained. 

The two wells in the Rome area were located in possible but high¬ 
ly improbable areas, due to the degree of metamorphism of the for¬ 
mations and to their general lithologic character. 


CONCLUSIONS ON OIL POSSIBILITIES OF GEORGIA 


139 


general conclusions on petroleum possibilities 

OF GEORGIA 

Coastal Plain.—A review of the data relative to the Coastal Plain 
of Georgia, as set forth in the foregoing pages of this bulletin, shows 
a lack of any structures that would be expected to cause accumulation 
of petroleum in commercial quantities. The lithology of the rocks 
likewise offers little prospect of petroliferous horizons. Buried struc¬ 
tures and petroliferous formations may exist, but from all the avail¬ 
able data the writers are not very hopeful of commercial production 
of petioleum in the Coastal Plain of Georgia, and feel that any con¬ 
siderable degree of optimism is unwarranted. 

In view of the fact that prospecting will probably be done in 
Georgia in the future, the writers feel that regionally the areas de¬ 
scribed below offer relatively the most hope for drilling. The struct¬ 
ural map (Map III.) shows that slight structural highs exist, and there 
is the possibility that these structures may increase in magnitude with 
depth. The most hopeful are as follows, in order of importance: (1) 
Along the slight structural arch shown in the Thomasville area; (2) 
'along the apparent crest extending from Camilla through Valdosta 
and thence east, southeast through the area between Statenville and 
Thelma; (3) the area roughly embraced by a line drawn through the 
towns of Douglas, Broxton, Osierfield, and Ocilla; (4) along the gentle 
arching shown by a nose with axis approximately along a straight line 
extending from Claxton through Metter and passing about 12 miles 
east of Swainsboro. 

North of the Fall line .—As previously stated, that portion of Geor¬ 
gia lying north of the Fall line offers scant hope for commercial pro¬ 
duction of petroleum. The character of the rocks and their degree of 
metamorphism in the regions of the Piedmont Plateau and Appa¬ 
lachian Mountains make these areas impossible ones. The Appa¬ 
lachian Valley and the Cumberland Plateau areas offer more hope, 
although the general lithologic character of the rocks, their high de- 


140 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


gree of metamorphism, and the deep erosion of the regions make 
these portions of the State possible, but highly improbable, areas of 
commercial production. 

APPENDIX A 

SOME GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS RELATIVE TO THE PRODUCTION 

OF OIL AND GAS 

Oil leases .—The right to drill for oil and gas on any property is 
usually acquired by an oil and gas lease, at a specified price per acre. 
In addition to this lease price the lessee usually pays a smaller 
amount per acre every year during which the lease is operative. This 
additional payment is known as rental. A small fraction, commonly 
one eighth, of any oil and gas produced goes to the owner of the land. 
This is called royalty. Leases are usually for a specified term of 
years the lessee generally agreeing to begin drilling within a few 
months after the signing of the lease and continue drilling with due 
diligence. This guarantee is usually secured by forfeit money placed 
in some bank. In some instances the land is purchased in fee simple. 

Cost of drilling oil wells .—The cost of drilling a well varies within 
the very wide limits of a few hundred dollars to $100,000 or more. 
These wide limits are generally due to variation in one or more of 
the following governing factors: depth of well, nature of rocks en¬ 
countered, cost of casing, cost of labor, proximity to transportation 
and to drilling services and equipment, and numerous drilling diffi¬ 
culties encountered. 

Spacing of wells .—The proper economic spacing of oil wells should 
be such as to give the maximum total recovery from a given area with 
the least number of wells. Numerous geologic factors, such as contin¬ 
uous porosity of the producing sand, viscosity of the oil, etc., enter 
into the problem, calling for different spacing in different areas. The 
average proper distance between wells is probably about 600 feet. 
It is unfortunate, but true, that in many highly productive areas the 
wells are too close together. 


SOME GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS 


141 


Petroleum Geologists .—The location of oil and gas tests should 
be based on the principles that govern the origin and accumulation 
of petroleum and natural gas. To correctly interpret these geolog¬ 
ical data is the work of the petroleum geologist, and not the work 
of a driller or a layman. In most cases a driller is not a trained 
geologist, and is therefore not fitted to determine geological conditions, 
except perhaps in some particular area with which he is very familiar, 
by reason of having done much drilling there. 

All persons who are interested in the possible development of any 
area, with the view to locating oil or gas, are therefore strongly ad¬ 
vised to procure the services of a competent petroleum geologist. 
The names of competent and reliable men can normally be obtained 
from the United States Geological Survey, at Washington, D. C., or 
from any State geological survey, or from universities that maintain 
departments of geology. 

Like every other profession, petroleum geology has its “quacks,” 
and these should be guarded against. Very commonly these “quacks” 
receive local reputations as experts, due very often to their being 
so called by local newspapers. 

The maintainance of geological departments by most of the large 
oil companies should be ample proof of the value of the services of a 
petroleum geologist. 

Laws governing drilling for oil .—Each oil producing State has its 
own laws governing the drilling for oil and gas. These laws are pri¬ 
marily designed for the protection of rights, the conservation of 
natural resources, and to secure industrial economy. Some of the 
main points covered by these laws are: The spacing of wells, the 
proper handling of water encountered, to prevent flooding of pro¬ 
ducing sands, and the wasteful escape of gas and oil. 

The following bill which passed the Georgia Senate, August 6, 
1920, but failed to pass the House on account of the congestion of 
business the last days of the session, is a modern and up to date bill, 
and will probably be enacted by the present legislature: 


142 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


PROPOSED BILL GOVERNING THE CONSTRUCTION OF OIL AND GAS 

WELLS, ETC., IN GEORGIA 

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of 
Georgia and it is enacted by the same, That before commencing the 
work of drilling an oil or gas well in this state the owner or operator 
of such well must file with the State Geologist a written notice of in¬ 
tention to commence drilling. Such notice shall also contain the fol¬ 
lowing information: (1) Statement of location and elevation 
above sea level of the floor of the proposed derrick and drill 
rig; (2) the number or other designation by which such well shall 
be known, which number or designation shall not be changed after 
filing the notice provided for in this section without the written con¬ 
sent of the State Geologist being obtained thereof; (3) the owner’s or 
operator’s estimate of the depth of the point at which water will be 
shut off, together with the method by which such shut off is intended 
to be made and the size and weight of casing to be used; (4) the 
owner’s or operator’s estimate of the depth at which oil or gas pro¬ 
ducing sand or formation will be encountered. 

After the completion of any well the provisions of this section 
shall also apply, as far as may be, to the deepening or redrilling of 
any well or any operation involving the plugging of any well or any 
operations permanently altering in any manner the casing of any 
well; and provided further, that the number or designation by which 
any well heretofore drilled has been known shall not be changed 
without first obtaining a written consent of the State Geologist. 

Section 2. Be it further enacted, it shall be the duty of the 
owner or operator of any well referred to in this act, to keep a care¬ 
ful and accurate log of the drilling of such well, such log to show the 
character and depth of the formation passed through or encountered 
in the drilling of such well, and particularly to show the location and 
depth of the water bearing strata, together with the character of the 
water encountered from time to time (so far ascertained) and to 
show at what point such water was shut off, if at all, and if not, to 


PROPOSED BILL 


143 


so state in such log, and show completely the amounts, kinds, and 
size of casing used, and show the depth and character of the same, 
and whether all water overlying and underlying such oil bearing 
strata was successfully and permanently shut off so as to prevent the 
percolation or penetration into such oil hearing strata; such log with 
samples of well borings taken at stated intervals of not more than 
10 feet unless waived by the State Geologist and shall be kept in the 
local office of the owner or operator, and shall be subject, during 
business hours, to the inspection of the State Geologist or any of his 
assistants, except in the case of a prospect well which shall include 
all wells iii unproven territories. Upon the completion of any well, 
or upon the suspension of operation upon any well, for a period of 
six months if it be a prospect well, or for 30 days, if it be in proven 
territory, a copy of said log shall be filed within 10 days after such 
completion, or after the expiration of said 30-day periods, with the 
State Geologist, and a like copy shall be filed upon the completion of 
any additional work in the deepening of any such well. 

Section 3. Be it further enacted, that the distance of wells shall 
not be closer to property lines than 200 feet while the regulated dis¬ 
tance of wells on individual properties shall be so spaced as to ex¬ 
tract the oil at the least possible cost, but no well shall be nearer a 
producing or drilling well than 200 feet. 

Section 4. Be it further enacted, That it shall be unlawful for 
any owner or operator having possession or control of any natural gas 
or oil well, to allow or permit the flow of gas or oil from any such 
well, to escape into the open air, without being confined within such 
well or proper pipes, or other safe receptacle, for a period longer than 
two (2) days, next after gas or oil shall have been struck in such well, 
and thereafter all such gas or oil shall be safely and securely con¬ 
fined in such wells, pipes or other safe and proper receptacles; pro¬ 
vided that this law shall not apply to any well that is being operated 
for the production of oil and in which the oil produced has a higher 
salable value in the field than has the gas so lost. 


144 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


Section 5. Be it further enacted, That whenever any well shall 
have been sunk for the purpose of obtaining natural gas or oil or 
exploring for the same, and shall be abandoned or cease to be opera¬ 
ted for utilizing the flow or gas or oil therefrom it shall be the 
duty of any persons, firm or corporation having the custody or 
control of such well at the time of such abandonment or cessation 
of use, and also of the owner or owners of the land wherein such 
well is situated, to properly and securely stop and plug the same as 
follows: If such well has not been “shot” there shall be placed 
in the bottom of the hole thereof a plug of well-seasoned pine wood, 
the diameter of which shall be within one-half inch as great as the 
hole of such well, to extend at least three feet above the salt water 
level, where salt water has been struck, such plug shall extend at least 
three feet from the bottom of the well. In both cases such wooden 
plugs shall be thoroughly rammed down and made tight by the use 
of drilling tools. After such ramming and tightening the hole 
of such well shall be filled on top of such plug with finely broken 
stone or sand, which shall be well rammed at a point at least four feet 
above the gas or oil bearing rock; on top of this stone or sand there 
shall be placed another wooden plug at least five feet long with 
diameter as aforesaid, which shall be thoroughly rammed and 
tightened. In case such well has been “shot” the bottom of the hole 
thereof shall be filled with a proper and sufficient mixture of sand, 
stone and dry cement, so as to form a concrete up to a point at 
least eight feet above the top of the gas or oil bearing rock or rocks, 
and on top of this filling shall be placed a wooden plug at least 
six feet long, with diameter as aforesaid. The casing from the well 
shall then be pulled or withdrawn therefrom, and immediately there¬ 
after a cast iron ball, eight inches in diameter, shall be dropped in 
the well, and securely rammed into the shale by the driller or owner of 
the well, after which not less than one cubic yard of sand pumping 
or drilling taken from the well shall be put on top of said iron ball. 

Section 6. Be it further enacted, That the right of eminent 
domain may exist and be exercised, for public use, by and in behalf 


PROPOSED BILL 


145 


of any person, firm or corporation for the construction and operation 
of pipe lines for the transportation of oil or gas, where in the opinion 
of the State Geologist there is a sufficient supply of oil or gas to 
warrant the construction of pipe lines, and subject to existing laws 
and rules and regulations to be provided by the Railroad Commission 
of The State of Georgia whereby methods of construction shall be 
fixed and rates for transportation of oil and gas shall be established. 

Section 7. Be it further enacted, That the legal form of oil and 
gas lease for this state shall be as follows: 

AGREEMENT, Made and entered into the.day of. 

. 19.... by and between. 

of . 

hereinafter called lessor (whether one or more) and. 

...of . 

hereinafter called lessee. 

"Witnesseth: That the said lessor, for and in consideration of 

.Dollars cash in hand and paid, 

receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, and of the covenants and 
agreements hereunder contained on the part of lessee to be paid, 

kept and performed, ha.granted, demised, leased and 

let and by these presents do.grant, demise, lease and 

let unto the said lessee for the sole and only purpose of mining and 
operating for oil and gas and of laying of pipe-lines, and of building 
tanks, powers, stations and structures thereon to produce, save and 
take care of said products, all that certain tract of land situated in 
the county of.State of Georgia, des¬ 

cribed as follows, to-wit: 


and containing 


acres, 


more or less. . 

It is agreed that this lease shall remain in force for a term of.. 
.years from this date, and as long thereafter as oil 




















146 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


or gas, or either of them, is produced from said land by lessee. 

In consideration of the premises the said lessee covenants and 
agrees: 

1st. To deliver to the credit of lessor, free of cost, in the pipe 
line to which they may connect their wells, the equal one-eighth 
part of all oil produced and saved from the leased premises. 

2nd. To pay the lessor.dollars each 

year, in advance, for the gas from each well where gas only is 
found, while the same is being used off the premises, and lessor to 
have gas free of cost from any such well for all stoves and all in¬ 
side lights in the principle dwelling houses on said land during the 

same time by making.own connection with the well 

at.... .own risk or expense. 

3rd. To pay lessor for gas produced from any oil well and used 

off the premises at the rate of.Dollars per 

year, for the time during which such gas shall be used, said pay¬ 
ments to be made each three months in advance. 

If no well be commenced on said land on or before the. 

day of.19. ... .this lease shall terminate as to 

both parties, unless the lessee on or before that date shall pay or 

tender to the lessor, or to the lessor’s credit in the. 

.Bank at. or 

its successors, which shall continue as the depository, regardless of 

changes in the ownership of said land, the sum of. 

.Dollars, which shall operate as rental and cover the privilege 

of deferring the commencement of a well for. 

months from said date. In like manner and upon like payments or 
tenders the commencement of a well may be further deferred for 
like periods in the same number of months successively. And it is 
understood and agreed that the consideration first recited herein, the 
down payment, covers not only the privilege granted to the date when 
said first rental is payable as aforesaid, but also the lessee ’s»^ption 
of extending that period as aforesaid, and any and all other rights 
conferred. 














PROPOSED BILL 


147 


Should the first well drilled on the above described land be a dry 
hole, then, and in that event, if a second well is not commenced on 
said land within twelve months from the expiration of the last rental 
period for which rental has been paid, this lease shall terminate as 
to both parties, unless the lessee on or before the expiration of said 
twelve months shall resume the payment of rentals in the same 
amount and in the same manner as hereinbefore provided. And it is 
agreed that upon the resumption of the payment of rentals, as 
above provided, that the last preceding paragraph hereof governing 
the payment of rentals and the effect thereof, shall continue in force 
just as though there had been no interruption in the rental payments. 

If said lessor owns a less interest in the above described land 
than the entire and undivided fee simple estate therein, then the 
royalties and rentals herein provided for shall be paid the lessor only 

in the proportion which.interest bears to the 

whole and undivided fee. 

Lessee shall have the right to use, free of cost, gas, oil and water 
produced on said land for all operations thereon except water from 
wells of lessor. 

When requested by lessor, lessee shall bury their pipe line below 
plow depth. 

No well shall be drilled nearer than 200 feet to the house or bam 
now on said premises without the written consent of lessor. 

Lessee shall pay for damages caused by all operations to growing 
crops on said land. 

Lessee shall have the right at any time to remove all machinery 
and fixtures on said premises, including the right to draw and remove 
casing. 

If the estate of either party hereto is assigned—and the privilege 
of assigning in whole or in part is expressly allowed—the covenants 
hereof shall extend to their heirs, executors, administrators, succes¬ 
sors or assigns, but no change in the ownership of the land or assigu- 



148 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


ment or rentals or royalties shall be binding on the lessee until after 
the lessee has been furnished with a written transfer or assignment 
or a true copy thereof; and it is hereby agreed that in the event this 
lease shall be assigned as to a part or as to parts of the above de¬ 
scribed lands and the assignee or assignees of such part or parts 
shall fail or make default in the payment of the proportionate part 
of the rentals due from him or them, such default shall not operate 
to defeat or affect this lease in so far as it covers a part or parts of 
said lands upon which the said lessee or any assignee thereof shall 
make due payment of said rental. 

Lessor hereby warrants and agrees to defend the title to the lands 
herein described, and agrees that the lessee shall have the right at 
any time to redeem for lessor, by payment, any mortgages, taxes or 
other liens on the above described lands, in the event of default of 
payment by lessor, and be subrogated to the rights of the holder 
hereof. 

WITNESS.hand.seal, this the 

.day of. 19.... 

Witnesses: 


Section 8. Be it further enacted, That any owner or operator of 
oil or gas wells in the State of Georgia violating the provisions of this 
Act, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof 
shall be fined any sum not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500.00) 
or shall be imprisoned for a period not exceeding three months, in 
the discretion of the court. 

Section 9. Be it further enacted, That all laws and parts of laws 
in conflict with this act are hereby repealed. *\. 












PETROLEUM POSSIBILITIES OF GEORGIA 


PLATE Till 




B. H. G. SAMPLE’S OIL SEEP NO. 2, SCOTLAND, TELFAIR COUNTY. 






ALTITUDES IN THE COASTAL PLAIN 


149 


APPENDIX B. 

ALTITUDES IN THE COASTAL PLAIN OF GEORGIA 

i In ougliout the Coastal Plain of Georgia numerous elevations have 
been established at various points by the United States Geological 
Survey, United States Army Engineers, and the engineering depart¬ 
ments of various railroads. Using these elevations as a base the 
Geological Survey of Georgia has established the elevations of numer¬ 
ous other points by repeated checkings with aneroid barometers or by 
the joint use of a barograph and aneroid barometers. The limit of 
error of the elevations thus established is probably less than 10 feet. 

ELEVATIONS IN GEORGIA COASTAL PLAIN. 


TOWN 

Authority 

Elevation, Feet 

Aaron 

U. S. G. S. 

260 

Abbeville (Court House) 

Aneroid 

256 

low water 

U. S. A. Eng. 

169.33 

Achord 

U. S. G. S. 

274 

Acree, Dougherty Co. 

A. C. L. 

205 

Adams Park 

U. S. G. S. 

259 

Adel 

G. S. & F. 

246 

Adrain, Emanuel Co. 

Rough Est. 

290 

Ailey 

Aneroid 

250 

Alamo 

it 

245 

Albany, Flint River Level 

A. C. L. 

127 

“ bridge 

Aneroid 

175 

Allapaha 

A. C. L. 

293 

Alexander 

U. S. G. S. 

283 

Alexanderville 

A. C. L. 

153 

Allenhurst 

U. S. G. S. 

60 

Allentown 

M. D. & S. 

411? 

Alma 

Aneroid 

195 

Ambrose, Coffee Co. 

Aneroid 

280 

Americus 

C. of G. 

360 

Andersonville 

It 

394 

Anguilla 

U. S. G. S. 

10 

Appling 

<< 

263 

Arabi 

G. S. & P. 

460 

Areola 

U. S. G. S. 

125 

Argyle 

A. C. L. 

161 

Arlington 

Rough Est. 

275 

Armena 

S. A. L. 

275 





































































150 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


Altitudes in coastal plain — continued. 


TOWN 


Authority 

Elevation, Feet 

Ashburn 


G. S. & F. 

450 

Atkinson 


U. S. G. S. 

68 

Attapulgus 


G. F. & A. 

175 

Augusta, low water 


U. S. G. S. 

109 

“ Union Sta. 


City Eng. 

143 



Aneroid 

315 



G. S. & F. 

360 



A. C. L. 

160 



44 

110 

*• water level 


G. P. & A. 

68 

Bankston 


Sou. Ry. 

359 

Bartow 


C. of G. 

237 



Aneroid 

235 

Bascom 


U. S. G. S. 

118 

Bath, Richmond Co. 


Rough Est. 

400 

Baxley 


U. S. G. S. 

206 

Baxter 


It 

117 

Beachton 


Aneroid 

260 

Belair 


Ga. R. R. 

295 

Bellville 


U. S. G. S. 

185 

Berzelia 


Ga. R. R. 

488 

Blackshear 


A. C. L. 

106 

Bladen 


U. S. G. S. 

16 

Blakely 


Rough Est. 

275 

Blanford 


U. S. G. S. 

79 

Blanton 


G. S. & F. 

172 

Bloomingdale 


C. of Ga. 

24 

Bonaire 


G. S. & F. 

354 

Boston 


A C. L. 

194 

Bostwick (Paschal) 


C. of Ga. 

669 

Boulogne, Fla. 


U. S. G. S. 

59 

Box Springs 


it 

364 

Braganza 


A. C. L. 

144 

Brentwood 


U. S. G. S. 

167 

Brewer (Tusculum P. 0.) 


44 

122 

Broadhurst 


tt 

56 

Brookfield 


A. C. L. 

332 

Brooklet 


U. S. G. S. 

159 

Brooklyn 


S. A. L. 

691 

Broxton 


Aneroid 

265 

Brinson 


A. 0. L. 

104 

Browntown 


U. S. G. S. 

70 

Brunswick 


Sou. Ry. 

13 

“ City Hall 


U. S. G. S. 

11 















































































































































ALTITUDES IN THE COASTAL PLAIN 


151 


Authority _Elevation, Feet 


Buena Vista 

Rough Est. 

590 

Bullards 

U. S. G. S. 

259 

Burroughs 

A. C. L. 

19 

Bushnell 

Rough Est. 

260 

Butler 

C. of Ga. 

650 

Byromville 

A. B. & A. 

365? 

Byron 

C. of Ga. 

515 

Ca dwell 

Aneroid 

345 

Cairo 

A. C. L. 

237 

Camak 

Ga. R. R. 

578 

Cameron 

U. S. G. S. 

102 

Camilla 

A. C. L. 

167 

Canooehee 

S. & S. 

372 

Carling 

U. S. G. S. 

403 

Carrs Station 

ft 

500 

Cecil 

G. S. & F. 

250 

Ceylon 

U. S. G. S. 

18 

Chalker 

Aneroid 

330 

Chauney 

U. S. G. S. 

300 

Chula 

G. S. & F. 

395 

Claxton 

U. S. G. S. 

187 

Clifton 

C. of Ga. 

22 

Climax 

A. C. L. 

277 

Clyo 

U. S. G. S. 

72 

Cochran 

ft 

342 

Colebrook, Effingham Co. 

Brinson R. R. 

65 

Coleman 

C- of Ga. 

391' 

Colesburg 

U. S. G. S. 

20 

Coley 

Sou. Ry. 

303 

Collins 

S. A. L. 

238 

Colon 

G. S. & F. 

137 

Colquitt 

Rough Est. 

175 

Columbus 

U. S. G. S. 

250 

“ river level 

ft 

200 

Cordele 

G. S. & F. 

336 

Cox 

U. S. G. S. 

17 

Cresent 

Rough Est. 

18 

Cox, Sou. Ry. 

U. S. G. S. 

287 

Culverton 

Ga. R. R. 

549 

Cusetta 

U. S. G. S. 

540 

Cushingville 

C- of Ga. 

153 

Cuthbert 

C. of Ga. 

446 

Cutler 

G. S. & F. 

78 

Cuyler 

S. A. L. 

37? 

Cycloneta 

G. S. & F. 

410 































































































152 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


TOWN 

Authority 

Elevation, Feet 

Daisy 

U. S. G. S. 

177 

Dakota 

G. S. & F. 

410 

Dales Mill 

A. C. L. 

136 

Darien 

Rough Est. 

15 

Dames Ferry 

U. S. G. S. 

346 

Dasher 

G. S. & F. 

185 

Davis 

A. C. Li. 

238 

Davisboro 

C. of Ga. 

302 

Dawson 

»» 

352 

Days Gap 

Sou. Ry. 

333 

Dearing 

Ga. R. R. 

464 

Denmark 

U. S. G. S. 

182 

Devereux 

»» 

577 

Dewitt 

Butts Map 

175 

Dixie 

A. C .L. 

130 

Dock Junction 

U. S. G. S. 

25 

Doctortown 

U. S. G. S. (B. M.) 

63 

“ station 

U. S. A. Eng. 

74 

“ low-water level 

U. S. A. Eng. 

28.72 

Doerun. 

Aneroid 

425 

Doles 

*1 

260 

Donald 

U. S. G. S. 

83 

Donaldsonville 

A. C. L. 

139 

Dooling 

A. B. & A. 

270 

Douglas 

Aneroid 

255 

Doublerun 

A. B. & A. 

363! 

Dover 

U. S. G. S. 

103 

Dry Branch 

M. D. & S. 

368? 

Dublin, river level 

Q. S. A. Eng. 

160.6 

“ bridge 

Hand level 

201 

Dubois 

Sou. Ry. 

391 

Dudley 

M. D. & S. 

325? 

Dunbarton 

U. S. G. S. 

251 

Dupont 

A. C- L. 

180 

East Albany 

A. C- L. 

186 

Eastman 

U. S. G. S. 

357 

Eden 

C. of Ga. 

34 

Egypt 

U. S. G. S. 

133 

Eldorado 

G. S & F 

340 

Elko 

»» 

443 

Ellabelle 

S. A. L. 

93! 

Ellaville 

Aneroid 

555 

Emmalane 

U. S. G. S. 

207 

Empire 


382 

Enigma 

A. C. L. 

309 

Esquiline 

U. S. G. S. 

300 



































































































ALTITUDES IN THE COASTAL PLAIN 


153 


Altitudes in coastal plain — continued. 


TOWN 

Authority 

Elevation, Feet 

Eufaula, Ala. 

C. of Ga. 

211? 

Everett City 

U. S. G. S. 

16 

Everett Station, 

Crawford Co. 

C. of Ga. 

362 

Everett Station, 

Flint River R. R. Br. 

ft 

337 

Exeter 

A. C. L. 

94 

Exley 

S. A. L. 

63 

Faceville 

A. C- L. 

296 

Fargo 

G. S. & F. 

116 

Fendig 

U. S. G. S. 

84 

Fitzgerald 

Aneroid 

350 

Fitzpatrick 

M. D. & S. 

541 

Fleming 

A. C- L- 

22 

Flint 

ft 

168 

Folkston 

U. S. G. S. 

81 

Forest, Clinch Co. 

A. C. Li. 

166 

Fort Gaines 

Aneroid 

215 

“ “ low water 

M 

91 

<« << 

C. of Ga. 

163 

Fort Mudge 

A. C. L. 

134 

Fort Valley 

C. of Ga. 

522 

Fowlstown 

A. C. L. 

289 

Gallemore (Willis P. O.) 

M. D. & S. 

394? 

Gardi 

U. S. G. S. 

62 

Garfield 

G. & F. 

287 

Geneva (Station) 

U. S. G. S. 

581 

Georgetown low water 

C. of Ga. 

189 

Gillionville 

Aneroid 

245 

Girard 

U. S. G. S. 

241 

Glencoe 

ft 

20 

Glenmore 

A. C. L. 

151 

Glenville 

U. S. G. S. 

175 

Glenwood 

Aneroid 

195 

Godwinville 

U. S. G. S. 

312 

Gordon 

C. of Ga. 

348 

Gordon, Ala. 

A. C- L- 

160 

Gough 

U. S. G. S. 

394 

Graham 

Sou. Ry. 

240 

Grangerville 

U. S. G. S. 

80 

Graves 

C. of Ga. 

350 

Grays 

A. C. L. 

232 

Greens Cut 

U. S. G. S. 

276 

Greenville 

>1 

447 

Gresston 

ft 

401 



















































































154 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 



Altitudes in 

coastal 'plain—continued. 


TOWN 


Authority 

Elevation, Feet 

Grimshaw 


U. S. G. S. 

180 

Griswold 


C. of Ga. 

447 

Grovania 


G. S. & F. 

444 

Groveland 


Q. S. G. S. 

158 

Grovetown 


Ga. R. R. 

495 

Guyton 


U. S. G. S. 

80-90 

Hagan 


»» 

190 

Hahira 


G. S. & F. 

230 

Halcyondale 


U. S. G. S. 

113 

Halloca 


U. S. G. S. 

323 

Hardaway 


A. C. L. 

183 

Hardeeville, S. C. 


»> 

21 

Harlem 


Ga. R. R. 

548 

Harrison, Washington 

Co. 

Aneroid 

400 

Hatcher 


C. of Ga. 

289? 

Hatley 


A. & B. Rwy. 

305 

Hawkinsville 


Weather Bureau 

235 

“ low-water level 

U. S. A. Eng. 

200.2 

Haylow 


G. S. & F. 

167 

Hazelhurst 


U. S. G. S. 

256 

Helena 



247 

Hephizabah 


Weather Bureau 

402 

Herndon 


C. of Ga. 

179 

Hickox 


U. S. G. S. 

65 

Higgston 


Aneroid 

298 

High Point 


U. S. G. S. 

15 

Hilltonia 


tt 

215 

Hinesville 


tt 

78 

Homeland 


tt 

88 

Homerville 


A. C. L. 

176 

Hortense 


U. S. G. S. 

56 

Howard 


C. of Ga. 

666? 

Howell, Echols Co. 


G. S. & F. 

169 

Hubert 


U. S. G. S. 

103 

Idlewood 


tt 

294 

Inaha 


G. S. & F. 

415 

Irwinton 


U. S. G. S. 

448 

Isabella (Sylvester) 


A. C. L. 

370 

Ivanhoe 


U. S. G. S. 

93 

Jamaica 


A. C. L. 

21 

Jasper, Fla. 


A. C. L. 

152 

Jakin 


A. C. L. 

140 

Jeffersonville 


M. D. & S. 

526 














































































ALTITUDES IN THE COASTAL PLAIN 


155 


Altitudes in coastal plain — continued. 


TOWN 

Authority 

Elevation, Feet 

Jennie 

U. S. G. S. 

185 

Jennings. Fla. 

G. S. & F. 

150 

Jerusalem 

U. S. G. S. 

17 

Jesup 

U. S. G. S. 

100 

Johnson 

C. of G. 

254 

Johnsonville, Jeff Davis Co. 

Sou. Ry. 

240 

Johnston 

A. C. L. 

71 

Juniper Sta. 

U. S. G. S. 

422 

Kathleen 

C. S. & F. 

330 

Keysville 

U S. G. S. 

280 

Kibbee 

Aneroid 

322 

Kildare, Effingham Co. 

U. S. G. S. 

129 

Kimbrough 

U. S. G. S. 

558 

Ivingsland 

U. S. G. S. 

34 

Kirkland 

A. C. L. 

236 

Kittrels 

Aneroid 

350 

Knoxville 

.T. E. Thomas 

640 

Lake Park 

G. S. & F. 

160 

Lambert 

U. S. G. S. 

92 

Lanier 

U. S. G. S. 

70 

Lawton 

U. S. G. S. 

219 

Leary 

D. L. Wardroper 

210 

Lee Pope 

Aneroid 

522 

Leesburg 

Aneroid 

282 

Lela 

A. C. L. 

146 

Leliaton 

Aneroid 

245 

Leland 

U. S. G. S. 

141 

Lenox 

G. S. & F. 

300 

Letford 

U. S. G. S. 

62 

Lewiston 

C. of Ga. 

385 

Lida 

U. S. G. S. 

95 

Lily 

A. B. & A. 

364 

Lincolnton 

U. S. G. S. 

500 

Lnngstreet 

<« 

302 

Long Pond, Hancock Co. 

ft 

66 

Lorenzo 

« I 

100 

Louisville 

It 

337 

Ludowici 

A. C. L. 

71 

Lulaton 

U. S. G. S. 

82 

Lumber City 

U. S. G. S. 

146 

“ “ low-water level 

U. S. A. Eng. 

84.7 

Lumpkin, station 

Aneroid 

515 

Lynn 

U. S. G. S. 

173 

Lyons 

S. A. L. 

254 



















































































156 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


Altitudes in coastal plain — continued. 


TOWN 

Authority 

Elevation, Feet 

McBean Station 

U. S. G. S. 

138 

McClenny, Fla. 

S. A. L. 

125 

McCormick 

U. S. G. S. 

535 

McDonald 

A. C. L. 

167 

McGregor 

Aneroid 

328 

McGriff 

U. S. G. S. 

259 

McIntosh 

U. S. G. S. 

20 

McIntyre 

it 

270 

McKinnon 

<* 

65 

McRae 

it 

230 

Macon, Union Station 

G. S. & F. 

334 

“ near Sou. Ry. Sta. 

U. S. G. S. 

311 

“ low-water level 

U. S. A. Eng. 

279.02 

Macon Junction 

C. of Ga. 

350 

Manassas 

S. A. L. 

217 

Manson 

U. S. G. S. 

60 

Marshallville 

C!. of Ga. 

500 

Marlow 

U. S. G. S. 

72 

Mattox 

U. S. G. S. 

70 

Matthews 


394 

Mayday 

G. S. & F. 

140 

Mayfield 

Ga. R. R. 

417.5 

Meigs 

A C- L. 

341 

Meinhard 

S. A. L. 

19 

Meldrim 

C. of Ga. 

28 

Melrose 

G. S. & F. 

154 

Mendes 

U. S. G. S. 

179 

Metcalf 

A. C. L. 

170 

Midville 

C. of Ga. 

186 

Milan 

Aneroid 

310 

Milledgeville 

U. S. G. S. 

326 

“ low-water level 

U. S. A. Eng. 

241.29 

Millen 

U. S. G. S. 

160 

Millhaven 

»» 

110 

Millwood 

A. C. L. 

160 

Mineola 

G. S. & F. 

220 

Mjsler 

U. S. G. S. 

293 

Modoc 

U. S. G. S. 

406 

Moniac 

“ 

117 

Monteith 

A. C. L. 

16 

Montezuma 

C. of Ga. 

300 

Montezuma, Flint River low-water 

Aneroid 

265 

Montrose 

M. D. & S. 

391? 

Morgan 

Weather Bureau 

337 






































































































ALTITUDES IN THE COASTAL PLAIN 


157 


Altitudes in coastal plain — continued. 


TOWN _ Authority _ Elevation, Feet 


Morris 

C. of Ga. 

242 

Mount Pleasant 

U. S. G. S. 

55 

Mount Vernon 

Highway Eng. 

230 

Moultrie 

Aneroid 

340 

Munnerlyn 

U. S. G. S. 

268 

Miscogee 

U. S. G. S. 

245 

Myers, Effingham Co. 

S. A. L. 

45 

Nahunta 

U. S. G. S. 

66 

Nashville 

Aneroid 

265 

Naylor 

A. C- L- 

192 

Needmore 

U. S. G. S. 

67 

Nesbitt 

li 

145 

Newington 

II 

143 

Newton, water level 

Aneroid 

95 

Newell 

U. S. G. S. 

77 

Nicholls 

Aneroid 

195 

Norman Park 

II 

380 

Norwood 

Ga. R. R. 

588 

Ocilla 

Aneroid 

327 

Ochillee 

U. S. G. S. 

273 

Ochlocknee 

A. C. L. 

263 

Ochwalkee, low-water Oconee R. 

U. S. A. Eng. 

114.4 

Oconee 

C. of Ga. 

223 

Odum 

U. S. G. S. 

155 

Offerman 

A C. L. 

106 

Ogeechee 

U. S. G. S. 

180 

Oglethorpe 

C. of Ga. 

299 

Ohoopee 

S. A. L. 

187 

Okmulgee 

Sou. Ry. 

124 

Old Sardis 

U. S. G. S. 

257 

Oliver 

II 

108 

Olney 

II 

63 

Omaha, station 

Rough Est. 

240 

Orange Bluff 

U. S. G. S. 

10 

Osierfiled 

Aneroid 

350 

Ousley 

A. C. L. 

148 

Paramore Hill, station 

U. S. G. S. 

235 

Parkwood 

it 

25 

Parksville 

II 

352 

Parrott 

S. A. L. 

482 

Paschal (Bostwick) 

C. of Ga. 

669 

Patterson 

A. C- Li. 

104 

Pearson 

U. S. G. S. 

203 

Pelham 

li 

355 

















































































158 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


Altitudes in coastal ■plain — continued. 


TOWN 

Authority 

Elevation, Feet 

Pembroke 

U S. G. S. 

94 

Pendarvis 

It 

85 

Pennick 

•• 

18 

Perkins 

<< 

233 

Perry 

Aneroid 

355 

Peterson 

U. S. G. S. 

73 

Pikes Peak, station 

M. D. & S. 

534 

Pinegrove 

U. S. G. S. 

229 

Pinehurst 

G. S. & F. 

390 

Pineora 

U. S. G. S. 

75 

Pine View 

Aneroid 

288 

Piscola, Brooks Co. 

Weather Bureau 

190 

Plains 

Aneroid 

490 

Plum Branch 

U. S. G. S. 

462 

Pooler 

0. of Ga. 

23 

Portal 

U. S. G. S. 

294 

Poulan 

A. C. L. 

345 

Powersville 

C. of Ga. 

385 

Prentiss 

Sou. Ry. 

207 

Pretoria 

U. S. G. S. 

220 

Pulaski 

*« 

220 

Quitman 

A. C. L. 

173 

Racepond 

A. C. L. 

148 

Rahns 

IT. S. G. S. 

' 73 

Raybon 

t* 

49 

Rebecca 

A. B. & A. 

373? 

Recovery 

A. C. L. 

189 

Register 

U. S. G. S. 

171 

Reid 

it 

272 

Reidsville 

Estimate 

200 

Renfroes 

S. A. L. 

601? 

Reynolds 

C. of Ga. 

433 

Riceboro 

Rough Est. 

15 

Rich Hill. Crest 

Aneroid 

707 

Richland 

S. A. L. 

600 

Richwood 

G. S. & F. 

358 

Rincon 

S. A. L. 

75 

River Junction. Fla. 

L. & N. 

84 

Roberta 

Aneroid 

487 

Roberts Station 

Ga. R. R. 

557 

Rochelle 

Aneroid 

369 

Rocky Ford 

U. S. G. S. 

124 

Roderick 

it 

79 


Rogers C. of Ga. 159 























































ALTITUDES IN THE COASTAL PLAIN 


159 


TOWN 


Altitudes in coastal plain — continued. 


Saffold 


A. C. L. 

105 

level Chattahoochee 

R. 

Rough Est. 

65 

St. Clair 


U. S. G. S. 

387 

St. George 


it 

78 

St. Marys 


ii 

15 

Sales City 


Aneroid 

397 

Sandersville 


Aneroid 

445 

Sap Still 


U. S. G. S. 

18 

Sardis 


U. S. G. S. 

239 

Satilla 


A. C- L. 

96 

Satilla, river level Little Satilla 


a 

71 

Savannah 


n 

21 

Scarboro 


U. S. G. S- 

160 

Schlatterville 


A. C. L. 

133 

Scotland 


U. S. G. S. 

142 

Screven 


A. C. L. 

124 

Sebastopol 


C. of Ga. 

225 

Shawnee 


IT. S. G. S. 

124 

Sheba 


U S. G. S. 

580 

Shell Bluff (P. O.) 


it 

301 

Shell Bluff Landing:, low water 

U. S. A. Eng. 

87 

“ “ highest 

point 

11 

237 

Shellman 


C. of Ga. 

3791 

Sibley 


G. S. & F. 

440 

Sisters Ferry, Effingham Co. 
low water 


U. S. A. Eng. 

20.03 

Slover 


U. S. G. S. 

92 

Smithville 


C. of Ga. 

332 

Sofltee 


G. S. &• F. 

370 

Soperton 


Aneroid 

308 

Southover Junction 


A. C. L. 

20 

Sparks 


G. S. & F. 

241 

Sparta 


Ga. R. R. 

557 

Springfield 


U. S. G. S. 

80 

Statenville 


A. C. L. 

152 

Statesboro 


U S. G. S. 

218-250 

Stapleton 


IT. S. G. S. 

440 

Sterling 


U S. G. S. 

21 

Stillmore 


Aneroid 

275 

Stillwell, Effingham Co. 


S A. L. 

69 

Stillson 


IT S. G. S. 

105 

Stockton 


A. C. L- 

187 

Sulphur Springs 


U. S. G. S. 

300 

Sumner 


A. C- L. 

373 

Sunhill 


C. of Ga. 

362 







































































































160 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


Altitudes in coastal plain — continued. 


TOWN 

Authority 

Elevation, Feet 

Surrency 

U. S. G. S. 

187 

Swainsboro 

Aneroid 

318 

Swift Creek 

M. D. & S. 

324? 

Sycamore 

G. S. & F. 

415 

Sylvania 

U. S. G. S. 

238 

Sylvester 

A. C. L. 

370? 

Talbotton 

U. S. G. S. 

726 

Tarboro 

ti 

12 

Tarrytown 

Aneroid 

310 

Tennille 

C. of Ga. 

469 

Thalman 

U. S. G. S. 

20 

Thelma 

G. S. & F. 

158 

Thomas 

C. of Ga. 

285 

Thomasville 

A. C. L. 

250 

Thomson 

Ga. R. R. 

503 

Tifton 

A. C. L. 

370 

Tivola 

G. S. & F. 

300 

Toomsboro 

U. S. G. S. 

236 

Towns 

it 

128 

Troy 

it 

520 

Trudie 

11 

56 

Tusculum (Brewer) 

a 

122 

Tyty 

A. C. L. 

332 

Unadilla 

G. S. R, F. 

412 

Undine 

U. S. G. S. 

155 

Upatoi 

it 

418 

Uptonville 

U. S. G. S. 

85 

Uvalda 

Aneroid 

185 

Valambrosa 

M. D. & S. . 

258? 

Valdosta 

A. C. L. 

215 

Valona, McIntosh Co. 

Weather Bureau 

10 

Vidalia 

Aneroid 

300 

Vidette 

U. S. G. S. 

350 

Vienna 

G. S. & F. 

350 

Wadley 

C. of Ga. 

234 

Wainwright (Uptonville Sta.) 

U. S. G. S. 

85 

Walden 

C. of Ga. 

390 

Walthourville 

A. C. L. 

95 

Waresboro 

it 

121 

Warrenton 

Ga. R. R. 

500 

Warthen 

Aneroid 

490 

Waverly 

U. S. G. S. 

20 

Waycross 

A. C. L. 

140 

Waynesboro 

U. S. G. S. 

261 

Waynesville 

it 

50 

Ways 

A. C. L. 

18 



















































ALTITUDES IN THE COASTAL PLAIN 


161 


Altitudes in coastal plain — continued. 


TOWN 

Authority 

Elevation, 

Feet 

Wellston 

G. S. & F, 


315 

Wenona 

44 


348 

West Green 

Aneroid 


255 

Westlake 

U. S. G. S. 


235 

Weston 

S. A. L. 


528 

Westover 

U. S. G. S. 


142 

Wheaton, Appling 

Co. 


201 

Whigham 

A. C. L. 


265 

Whiteoak 

U. S. G. S. 


15 

Whllets 

«< 


250 

Willie 

44 


87 

Willis (Gallemore) 

, M. D. & S. 


394? 

Wilcox 

Sou. Ry. 


116 

Willacoochee 

A. C. L. 


247 

Wilingham 

4 4 


319 

Winchester 

C. of Ga. 


463 

Woodbine 

U. S. G. S. 


14 

Worth 

G. S. & F. 


415 

Wray 

Rough Est. 


290 

Wrens 

U. S. G. S. 


423 

Wrightsville 

Aneroid 


335 

Zenith 

Aneroid 


567 


The abbreviations used are. 



A. 

B. & A.—Atlanta, Birmingham & Atlantic 

Railroad. 


A. 

C. L.—Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. 



C. 

of Ga.—Central of Georgia Railroad. 




Ga. R. R.—Georgia Railroad. 

G. & F.—Georgia and Florida Railroad. 

G. F. & A.—Georgia, Florida & Alabama Railroad. 
G. S. & F.—Georgia Southern & Florida Railroad. 

L. & N.—Louisville & Nashville Railroad 

M. D. & S.—Macon. Dublin & Savannah Railroad. 
S. A. L.—Seaboard Air Line Railroad. 

S. & S.—Savannah & Southern Railroad. 

Sou. Rv.—Southern Railway. 

U S. A. Eng.—United States Army Engineers. 

U S G. S.—United States Geological Survey. 



























162 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


RIVER ALTITUDES IN GEORGIA COASTAL PLAIN 

(Distance by air line.) 

Elevations of normal water surface of Altamaha River 


Mouth of Penholoway Creek-U. S. A. Eng. 

Doctortown -U. S. A. Eng. 

Mouth of Ohoopee River-U. S. A. Eng. 

Mouth of Cobbs Creek-U. S. A. Eng. 

Junction Oconee and Ocmulgee rivers-U. S. A. Eng. 


Elevations of normal ivater surface of Chattahoochee River 


Flint River, junction with Chattahoochee River- 

Mouth of Sowhatchee Creek- 

Mouth of Cohelee Creek- 

Mouth of Colomokee Creek- 

Fort Gaines_ 

Mouth of Pataula Creek- 

Georgetown - 

Mouth of Hannahatchee Creek- 

Mouth of Hichitee Creek- 

Mouth of Upatoi Creak- 

Columbus Wharf- 


_U. S. A. Eng. 

_U. S. A. Eng. 

_U. S. A. Eng. 

_U. S. A. Eng. 

_U. S. A. Eng. 

_U. S. A. Eng. 

_U. S. A. Eng. 

_U. S. A. Eng. 

_U. S. A. Eng. 

_U. S. A. Eng. 

_U. S. A. Eng. 


Elevations of normal water surface of Flint River 


Flint-Chattahoochee River junction 

Bainbridge - 

Newton _ 

Albany _ 

Montezuma _ 

Fall line_ 


-Calculated 

_G. F. & A. 

__Calculated 

_A. C. L. 

-Aneroid 

Ga. Bull. No. 16, p 20 


Elevations of normal ivater surface of Ocmulgee River 


Junction Oconee and Ocmulgee rivers-U. S. A. Eng. 

Lumber City_U. S. A. Eng. 

Barrows Bluff_U. S. A. Eng. 

One mile below Coffee-Ben Hill County line-U. S. A. Eng. 

Ben Hill -Wilcox County line_U. S. A. Eng. 

Abbeville _U. S. A. Eng. 

Mouth of Mosquito Creek_U. S. A. Eng. 

Mouth of Limestone Creek-U. S. A. Eng. 

Hawkinsville _ U. S. A. Eng. 

Macon _U. S. A. Eng. 

Elevations of normal water surface of Oconee River 

Junction Oconee and Ocmulgee rivers_U. S. A. Eng. 

Mouth Ochwalkee Creek_U. S. A. Eng. 

Mouth Pues Creek_U. S. A. Eng. 

Dublin -U. S. A. Eng. 

Mouth Buffalo Creek_U. S. A. Eng. 

Milledgeville _U. S. A. Eng. 


Feet above 
sea level 
24 
29 
50 
69 
83 


Feet above 
sea level 

45.0 

65.3 

76.0 

90.8 

96.7 

105.5 
118.0 
142.7 
152.0 

174.5 

185.5 


Feet above 
sea level 

52 

68 

95 

127 

265 

327 


Feet above 
sea level 

83 

85 

126 

131 

151 

169 

193 

196 

200 

279 


Feet above 
sea level 
83 
110 
155 
161 
193 
241 







































RIVER ALTITUDES IN COASTAL PLAINS 163 


Elevations of normal water surface of Ogeechee River 


Cones Bridge, opposite Pineora_U. S. G.S. 

Point 1 mile above Taylor’s Landing, I y 2 miles below point 

due east of Brooklet__XJ. S. G.S. 

Mouth. Mill Cr., due east of Le'and_U. S. G. S. 

Point 1 mile above mouth Ogeechee Creek_U. S. G. S. 

Mouth Buck Creek_U. S. G. S 

Point opposite Dover_ U g q S 

Lone Bridge, opposite Ogeechee___U. S. G. S. 

Point due south of Rocky Ford_U. S. G. S. 

Point 1 mile below Scarboro__U. S. G. S. 

Point due Southwest of Paramore Hill St? __U. S. G. S. 

Point 1V 2 miles above Millen bridge_ U. S. G. S. 

Midville --u. s G s 


Feet above 
sea level 
40 

50 

60 

70 

80 

90 

100 

110 

120 

130 

140 

168 


Elevations of normal water surface of St. Marys River 


Point 7 miles north of St. George_ 

At St. George__ 

Point 2% miles due north of point on river due east 

of Stokesville_ 

Point 2% miles southeast of Stokesville at point where 

river turns north_ 

Point 614 miles north of Glen St. Mary Fla_ 

Point 4Vz miles south of Moniac_ 

Point 1 Vz miles south of Moniac_ 

Point 1 mile north of Moniac_ 


U. S. G. S. 
-__U. S. G. S. 

— C. S. G. S. 

_U. S. G. S. 

__U. S. G. S. 
__U. S. G. S. 

— U. S. G. S. 
__U. S. G. S. 


Feet above 
sea level 
10 
21 


30 

40 

50 

80 

90 

100 


Elevations of normal water surface of Savannah River 


Ebenezer Creek-U. S. A. Eng. 

Sisters Ferry, opposite Clyo_G. S. A. Eng. 

Brier Creek-0. S. A. Eng. 

Brier Creek estimated-U. S. G. S. 

Cohens Bluff Ldg., S. C. 4 miles above mouth Brier Creek_U. S. G. S. 

Black Creek Landing_U. S. A. Eng. 

Burton's Ferry, due east of Millhaven_U. S. G. S. 

Point 2 miles below Burke-Screven line_U. S. G. S. 

Burke-Screven County line, estimated_U. S. G. S. 

Steel Creek Ldg., S. C. 6 miles above Burke-Screven line_U. S. G. S. 

Shell Bluff Ldg., estimated_U. S. G. to". 

Shell Bluff Ldg__U. S. A. Eng. 

Mouth of McBean Creek, estimated _U. S. G. S. 

Mouth of McBean Creek-U. S. A. Eng. 

Little Spirit Creek-U. S. G. S. 

Augusta, estimated_U. S. G. S. 

Augusta -U. S. A. Eng. 

Point 114 miles above S. A. L. Crossing near Clyo-U. S. G. S. 

Hudson’s Ferry, 2 miles above Screven-Effingham line-U. S. G. S. 


Poor Robin Landg., due east of point 3 Vi miles south of Sylvania—U. S. G. S. 


Feet above 
sea level 
14 
20 
46 

50 

43 

60 

70 

74 

80 

92 

87 

95 

87 

10O 

109 

103 

20 

30 

40 





































164 


GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA 


Elevations of normal water surface of Satilla River 

Point 2 miles above Wayne-Camden County line-U. S. G. S. 

Point between Luluton and Atkinson at A. C. L. bridge_U. S. G. S. 

Trudie _U. S. G. S. 

Point opposite Waycross, at A. C. L. Crossing-U. S. G. S. 


Feet above 
sea level 
10 
19 
31 
71.8 


Elevations of normal tenter surface of Little Satilla Fork 

Feet above 
sea level 

Satilla _A. C. L. 71 

Elevations of normal water surface of Withlacoochee River 

Feet above 
sea level 

Mineola _G. S. & F. 124 






INDEX 


Page 


Accumulations of oil_ 38-45 

Altamaha upland _ 63 

Alteration of rocks_ 4-5 

Altitudes in the Coastal Plain of 

Georgia -149-161 

Alum Bluff formation_ 83-84 

Appendix A.-140-148 

Appendix B.-149-164 

Appalachian mountains_ 69-70 

Appalachian valley_ 70 

Artesian well No. 2 , Albany, log of_93-94 


B 

Barnwell formation, strata 

Base definition of_ 

Berry, E. W., cited_ 

Blowouts _ 

C 

Calorific value of oils_ 23-24 

Cenozoic era_ 16 

Chamberlain, cited_ 1 

Charlton formation_ 86 

Chattahoochee formation _ 81-82 

Chemical composition of petroleum_ 24 

Claiborne group of sands and clays_ 78 

Classifications of oils_ 24 

Classifications of rocks_ 5-10 

Clays, Cailborne group_ 78 

Clays, Wilcox formation_ 77-78 

Closed monoclinal strata_ 41-43 

Coal series and petroleum series, com¬ 
parison of _ 32 

Coal, relations between petroleum and 

natural gas_ 29 

Conditions essential to the formation of 

oil in commercial quantities_ 33-48 

Construction of oil and gas, wells, in 

Georgia, proposed bill _142-148 

Conversion of oil _ 36-38 

Cooke, C. W., cited_1-2-76-78-79-81 

Correlation table of Principal Gulf 

Coast formations _ 90-92 

Cretaceous system _ 73-76 

Cumberland Plateau _ 71 

Coastal Plain, general features of_ 59-64 

Coastal Plain of Georgia, geology of— 72-89 

Coastal Plain of Georgia and adjacent 

areas, generalized structure of--131-132 
Coastal Plain of Georgia, altitudes in 149-161 
Coastal Plain of Georgia, river 

altitudes _162-164 

Columbia Group, Okefenokee formation 87-89 
Columbia Group of Pleistocene series 87-90 
Columbia Group, Satilla formation— 89-90 

Comparison of petroleum series and 

coal series_ 32 

Conclusions, summary of geologic his¬ 
tory _ 16-17 

Conclusions on structural conditions of 

the Coastal Plain of Georgia-132-133 

D 

Day, David T., cited-1, 19, 20 

Deep wells of the Coastal Plain-93, 105 

Definitions of terms -17, 18 

Deposits of Jackson age -- 78-80 

Distillation fractions of oil- 24 

Divining rods, doodle bugs, wiggle 

sticks, etc. - ; - 53 

Divisions of Georgia, physiographic— 58 


Page 

Doodle bug_ 53 

Dougherty plain_ 62 

Duplin Marl _ 85 

E 

Earth movements_ 3 , 4 

Elevations, fallacy of_ 55 

Elevations on surface exposures_115-116 

Emmons, W. H., cited_ 1 , 34 

Eocene series _ 76-80 

Erosion and deposition _ 2, 3 

Eutaw formation strata of_ 74 

Expansion of oils _ 23 

F 

Factors, non-structural _ 49-51 

Fall line, petroleum possibilities north 

of the -135-138 

Fall line hills_ 61 

Fall line, oil prospect wells north of the 138 

Fallacy of Gas, blowouts_ 55 

Fallacy of vegetation_ 55 

Fallacy of topography_ 53 

Fallacy of migration of oil_ 54 

Fallacies relative to petroleum and 

natural gas, popular_ 53-56 

Favorable structures for oil_ 40-45 

Features of Georgia, physiographic_ 58-71 

Flash point of oils_ 23 

Folded strata, instrumental_40, 41 

Formations of Coastal Plain of Geor¬ 
gia, geologic- 72 

Formations, regional dip of_ 90 

Forces causing the movement of oil_ 39 

Future supply of petroleum_20, 21 

G 

Gas blowouts, fallacy of_ 55 

Geological distribution of petroleum_ 19 

Geologic time table_ 12 

Geology of the Coastal Plain of Georgia 72-89 

Geologic formation_ 81 

Geologic formation of Coastal Plain of 

Georgia _._ 72 

Geologic history, summary of_ 13-16 

Geographic distribution of petroleum 20 

Georgia Petroleum Oil Company_ 56 

General conclusions on Petroleum 

possibilities of Georgia_139-140 

General considerations relative to the 

production of oil and gas_140-142 

General features of Coastal Plain_ 59-64 

General geological principles_ 2-17 

General principles of oil accumula 

tions _ 38 

General relations between petroleum, 

coal and natural gas_ 26 

General structural evidence_127-129 

General surface appearance_ 53 

Generalized structure of the Coastal 
Plain of Georgia and adjacent 
areas _131-132 

H 

Hager, Dorsey cited_ 1 

Hinson Oil, Gas and Development Com¬ 
pany - 57 

Historical notes on petroleum_ 18-19 

History of Oil prospecting in Georgia 56-58 

History, summary of geologic_ 13-16 

Huntley, cited_ 1 


_ 80 

_ 22 

1, 74, 75, 76 
- 55 






















































































INDEX 


Page 

I 


Indications of oil structural_ 51-53 

Inorganic theory of oil_ 33-34 

Introductory _ 1, 2 

J 

Jackson Age, deposits of_ 79-80 

Johnson and Huntley, cited_1, 19, 37 

L 

Lens-shaped porous beds of_ 43-44 

Life on earth and Geological time 

table _ 10-13 

Lime-sink region, Southern_ 64 

Location of oil and gas test wells_ 49-53 

Log of city artesian well No. 2, 

Albany, Ga._ 93-94 

Log of oil prospect well at Scotland, 

Telfair County_ 97-98 

Log of oil prospect well at Fredel, 10 

miles south of Waycross_98-101 

Log of oil prospect well of middle Ga. 

Oil and Gas Company, 12 mi. west 


of Hazlehurst, Jeff Davis countyl02-105 
Log oil prospect well near Doctortown, 


Wayne County_101-102 

Log of prospect well at Chei-okee Hill, 6 

mi. N. W. of Savannah_ 94-97 

Logs of wells used in determining struc¬ 
ture contour lines_121-127 

Lower Cretaceous(?) undifferentiated, 

strata- 74 

Lowland, satilla coastal_ 66-68 

Lucas, A. F., cited_ 56 

M 

Mabery, C. F., cited_ 24 

Marks Head Marl_84, 85 

McB#an formation sands, clays, of_ 78 

McCallie S. W. cited._ 58 

Mesozoic era_15, 16 

Methods employed in determining 

structures _ 107 

Middle Georgia Oil and Gas Company 57 

Midway formation, sands and clays of 76-77 

Migration of oil, fallacy of_ 54 

Mineral contents of rocks_ 6-8 

Miocene series, strata _ 82-87 

Miocene deposits, unclassified_ 86 

Mountains, Appalachian_ 69-70 

Murray, Robert cited_ 2 

N 

Natural Gas, relations between petro¬ 
leum and coal_ 30 

Newberry, J. S., cited_ 34 

Non-structural factors of oil_ 49-51 

O 

Ocala limestone _79, 80 

Oil and Gas test wells, location_ 49-53 

Oil, accumulation _ 38-45 

Oils, calorific value_23, 24 

Oils, classifications_ 24 

Oil, conversion_ 36-38 

Oils, distillation fractions_ 24 

Oil, favorable structures _ 40-45 

Oil forces causing the movement_ 39 

Oil prospecting in Georgia, history_56-58 

Oil prospect wells north of the Fall 

line _ 138 

Oil, retention _ 45-49 

Oil seeps in Georgia_129-131 


Page 

Oil, source _ 33-36 

Okefenokee plain -65, 66 

Okefenokee formation of Columbia 

Group _ 87-89 

Oligocene series, strata- 80-82 

Organic theory of oil- 33-34 

Orton, Edward, cited- 

Other structures of strata- 


65, 

66 

87 

-89 

80 

-82 

33 

-34 


34 


44 


15 


27 


24 


22 

20, 

21 


19 


20 

18, 

19 


Paleozoic era- 

Paraffin series, some common members 

Petroleum, chemical composition- 

Petroleum, color - 

Petroleum, future supply -- 20, 21 

Petroleum, geological distribution- 

Petroleum, geographic distribution- 

Petroleum, historical notes-18, 19 

Petroleum and natural gas, popular 

fallacies _ 53-56 

Petroleum and natural gas, general 

considerations_ 16-17 

Petroleum, odor_ 22 

Petroleum, physical property- 21-24 

Petroleum possibilities north of the 

Fall line ____135-138 

Petroleum possibilities in Coastal plain_138-139 
Petroleum possibilities of Georgia, 

general conclusions _139-140 

Petroleum, relations between coal and 

natural gas_ 26 

Petroleum series and coal series, com¬ 
parison _ 32 

Petroleum, specific gravity- 21-22 

Petroleum, uses _ 18 

Petroleum viscosity of_ 23 

Physiographic divisions of Georgia— 58 

Physiographic features of Georgia- 58-71 

Piedmont Plateau -68, 69 

Pirsson, L. V., cited_ 1, 8 

Plain, Okefenokee _ 65-66 

Plain, Dougherty_ 62 

Plateau, Piedmont-68, 69 

Plateau, Cumberland_ 71 

Pleistocene series _ 87 

Pliocene(l) series _ 86 

Popular fallacies relative to petroleum 

and natural gas_ 53-56 

Porosity of rocks_ 38 

Possible sources of oil in the Coastal 

Plain _133-135 

Pre-Archean time _13, 14 

Proposed bill governing the constitu¬ 
tion of oil and gas wells, etc., in 

Georgia _142-148 

Prospect well at Cherokee Hill, 6 

mi. N. W. of Savannah_ 94-97 

Prospect well at Scotland, Telfair 

county, log of oil_ 97-98 

Prospect well at Fredel, 10 mi. south 

of Waycross, log of_98-101 

Prospect well near Doctortown, Wayne 

county, log of-101-102 

Prospect well of middle Georgia, oil 
and Gas Company, 12 mi. west of 
Hazelhurst, Jeff Davis county, log 

of _102-105 

Px-oterozoic era _14, 15 


Q 


Quaternary system_ 87-90 

R 

Regional dip of formations_ 90 

Relations between petroleum, coal and 

natural gas_ 26 



























































































INDEX 


Retention of oil _ 45-49 

Ripley formation strata of_ 75 

River altitudes in Georgia coastal 

plain -162-164 

Rocks, character of _ 9 

Rocks, chemical composition of_ 8 

Rocks, impervious capping _ 39 

Rocks, mineral contents of_ 6-8 

Rome petroleum and Iron Company_ 58 

Rocks, porosity of_ 38 

Rocks, texture of_ 8, 9 

Rocks, types of_ 5^ 6 


Structure contour lines, logs of wells 


used in determining_121-127 

Structural evidence, general_127-129 

Structures of oil, favorable_ 40-45 

Structural indications of oil_ 51-53 

Structural map, well data used for_117-120 

Structures, summary_ 45 

Summary of deep well logs of coastal 

Plain - 106 

Summary of geologic history_ 13-16 

Summary of relations between petro- 
Summary of structures_ 45 


S 

Sands of clays, Wilcox formation_77, 78 

Salisbury, cited _ 1 

Satilla formation of Columbia Group- 89-90 

Satilla Coastal lowland_ 66-68 

Seeps in Georgia, oil_129-131 

Shearer, H. K., cited_1, 78, 79 

Shucbert, cited _ 1 

Some deep wells of the Coastal Plain 93-105 

Source of oil_ 33-36 

Sources of oil in the Coastal Plain_133-135 

Southern lime-sink region_ 64 

Stephenson, L. W., cited_73, 74, 75 

Strata, folded_ 40-41 

Strata, lens-shaped porous beds of_43-44 

Strata, other structures_:_ 44 

Strata, closed monoclinal _ 41-43 

Strata, lower cretaceous (?) undifferen¬ 
tiated _ 74 

Strata, Ripley formation_ 75 

Strata, Upper Cretaceous (?) undiffer¬ 
entiated _ 75-76 

Strata, Eutaw formation _ 74 

Structural conditions in Coastal Plain 

of Georgia _107-129 

Structural conditions of the coastal 

plain of Georgia, conclusions_132-133 

Structural area No. 1 of coastal plain_107-109 
Structural area No. 2 of coastal plain_109-lll 
Structural area No. 3 of coastal plain_112-115 

Stephenson, L. W., cited_1, 2, 84, 85 

Structure of the Coastal Plain of Geor¬ 
gia and adjacent areas, general¬ 
ized _131-132 


T 


Table, geologic time_ 12 

Tertiary system _ 76-86 

Terms, definitions of_17, 18 

Test wells, oil and gas location_49, 53 

Texture of rocks_ 8, 9 

Thom, W. T. Jr., cited_ 2 

Three Creeks Oil Company_ 57 

Theory of oil, inorganic and organic_33-34 

Time table, geologic _ 12 

Topogi-aphy, fallacy of_ 53 

Types of rocks_ 5, 6 

U 

Unclassified Miocene deposits_ 86 

Undifferentiated Clariborne deposits, 

clays, etc._ 79 

Upper Cretaceous (?) undifferentiated, 

strata _75, 76 

V 

Valley, Appalachian_ 70 

Vaughan, T. W., cited_ 1, 94 

Veatch, Otto, cited:_1, 84, 85 

Vegetation, fallacy of_ 54 

Vicksburg Group _ .80 

W 

Waycross Oil and Gas Company_ 57 

Well data used in making structural 

map -117-120 

Wiggle Sticks_ 53 

Wilcox formation _77, 78 

Wooten, J. P. cited_ 2 
































































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